An Australian missionary has been detained by North Korean authorities who have reportedly questioned him over Gospel tracts he was carrying.
South Australian John Short, who lives in Hong Kong, was part of a tour group that arrived in Pyongyang on Saturday and, according to another member of the group who has since returned to Hong Kong, was detained by police at his hotel that night.
“John Short was in possession of some Gospel tracts in the Korean language which seem to be at the core of his detention,” said a statement issued on Wednesday.
Mr Short’s wife Karen told Fairfax Media that her husband was “in God’s hands”.
Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs was reportedly seeking assistance from Swedish officials on North Korea to confirm Mr Short’s well-being.
