Australian student says North Korean authorities forced him to confess espionage

An Australian student arrested in rth Korea last year on accusations of espion reportedly said that authorities forced him to write apologies and false confession. Alek Sigley was a student of modern Korean literature at Kim Il-sung University in Pyongyang and his arrest raised global alarm.

Sigley spent nine days in detention before he was released and deported back to Australia. Immediately after his release, rth’s state media me sensational claims that Australian student h mitted his “spying acts” and repeatedly asked for pardon while “apologizing for encroachment upon sovereignty of DPRK”.

After returning to Australia with help of Sweden, since Canberra doesn’t have a diplomatic representation in Pyongyang, Sigley h me a brief statement in July last year and ded that he won’t be giving any media interviews, holding a press conference or answering questions on social media regarding incident.

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29-year-old student h expressed anguish that he may never walk on streets of Pyongyang saying city holds “a very special place” in his heart. He wanted to continue acemic research in rth Korea but h plans to visit country again in short term. Korean literature student lamented fact that he won’t be able to receive his master’s degree from Kim Il-sung University after completing more than half course.

“I may never again see my teachers and my partners in travel industry, whom I’ve come to consider close friends. But that’s life,” said Sigley in a statement.

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Didn't accuse of physical mistreatment

But Australian student has w written for a South Korean acemic journal stating that authorities continuously me him write ‘apologies’ as if y wanted to teach him a “lesson”. Sigely’s column reportedly presented an apolitical and insightful view of life in Pyongyang, one of world’s most secretive city. He did t accuse authorities of physical mistreatment but called nine-day interrogation an unpleasant experience where he was completely cut off from outside world.

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