An Australian missionary has arrived back in Beijing after he was released by North Korean authorities, having been detained for about two weeks over the distribution of Bible tracts.
The ABC reported that the country’s state news agency KCNA had said John Short had been released after apologising and admitting to violating North Korean law.
They said Mr Short made no comment when he arrived at Beijing on Monday where he was met by Australian embassy officials.
In Mr Short’s written statement, published by KCNA and found on the ABC’s website, Mr Short said he “wanted more Korean people to be Christians therefore I secretly spread Bible tracts written by me”.
Mr Short was detained last month after arriving in the country as part of a tour group. KCNA said Mr Short’s release was in part due to the 75-year-old’s age.
Meanwhile American-Korean Kenneth Bae remains in North Korea after he was found guilty of carrying out missionary work and sentenced to 15 years hard labour last April.
