Australian man Alek Sigley speaks for first time after being released from North Korea

Safely reunited with his wife in Japan, Australian student Alek Sigley has spoken for the first time since he was released after a week’s detention in North Korea.

Australian man Alek Sigley has spoken out for the first time after being detained in North Korea.

The 29-year-old gave no further hint as to why he was arrested last week as he made a statement thanking those who worked to free him today.

“I just want everyone to know I am OK, and to thank them for their concern for my wellbeing and their support for my family over the past week,” Mr Sigley said in a statement.

“I’m very happy to be back with my wife, Yuka, and to have spoken with my family in Perth to reassure them I’m well.

“I intend now to return to normal life but wanted to first publicly thank everyone who worked to ensure I was safe and well.”

How Sweden got Alek Sigley out of North Korea

Mr Sigley says he wants to return to a normal life. Picture: Getty

Mr Sigley asked that the media respect his privacy and said he would be making no further statements about his detention.

He thanked Prime Minister Scott Morrison, Foreign Affairs Minister Marise Payne and Sweden’s Special Envoy to North Korea, Kent Rolf Magnus Harstedt, in particular for their efforts to have him released.

“There are many other people whose names I don’t know who worked hard in the background as well,” he said.

“I’d like to thank the Department of Foreign Affairs in particular.

“My family and friends are always a source of love and support but have been even more so at this time.

“I also appreciate all the good wishes that myself, my family and my friends have received.”

Mr Sigley arrived in Tokyo last night after being freed from detention in North Korea.

His flight touched down at 11.06pm local time (12.06am AEST) after being slightly delayed from Beijing. The Australian student was reportedly too late to connect to a Qantas flight to Sydney though it was unclear whether he had planned to travel to see family.

Alek Sigley is all smiles as he arrives at Haneda International airport in Tokyo. Picture: Jun Sato

His Tokyo-based wife Yuka Morinaga has remained offline since his release.

Earlier, en route from Beijing to Tokyo, Mr Sigley said: “I’m OK, I’m OK, yeah. I’m good. I’m very good.”

When asked earlier about what happened in Pyongyang, he paused but did not comment.

The 29-year-old Pyongyang university student had been out of contact with family and friends in Japan and Australia since Tuesday last week.

Alec Sigley arrives in Tokyo after being freed from North Korea. Picture: Jun Sato

Alek Sigley did not make any comment to waiting reporters. Picture: AFP

“He’s fine. He’s in very good spirits. He’s been treated well,” his father Gary told reporters in his hometown of Perth.

Australian student Alex Sigley gestures as he arrives at the airport in Beijing. Picture: AP Photo/Emily Wang

In this image made from video, Australian student Alex Sigley smiles as he arrives at the airport in Beijing. Picture: AP Photo/Emily Wang

Mr Morrison told parliament at 3.30pm on Thursday that Mr Sigley was now on “home soil” at the embassy.

“We were advised that the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea have released him from detention and he has safely left the county,” he told parliament this afternoon.

Mr Morrison extended his deepest gratitude to Swedish diplomats, who were “invaluable in securing Alek’s prompt release”.

“I’m sure we could not be more pleased that we not only know where Alek is, but that he is safe,” the Prime Minister said.

“(This) demonstrates the value of discreet, behind-the-scenes work by officials in solving sensitive consular cases in close partnership with other governments,” he said.

ALEK ‘IN CONSTANT GOOD SPIRITS’: FATHER

Foreign Affairs Minister Marise Payne also thanked Swedish authorities for their assistance and praised the “careful, behind-the-scenes work” of diplomatic officials.

She also said Mr Sigley’s family had been advised of the news.

“I won’t be making further comment out of respect for Alek’s privacy and his family but I can say his father has been advised,” Senator Payne said.

“He is enormously relieved and grateful and has asked me to convey, the family has asked that we convey the thanks to everyone who has expressed support to them for the last few days.”

Australian student Alek Sigley smiles as he arrives at the airport in Beijing. Picture: Kyodo News via AP

Alek Sigley with wife Yuka Alek on their wedding day in Pyongyang.

Diplomats began a desperate search for Mr Sigley last week after reports emerged that he had been arrested at his university in Pyongyang.

He was last heard from on June 25 and had since fallen silent on social media.

Fears for his safety were compounded by the fate of US college student Otto Warmbier, who died in 2017 just days after being released from detention in North Korea.

Otemae University international relations lecture Daniel Tang, a close friend of Mr Sigley’s, said he was relieved by his release.

“Alek has always had an admirable approach towards North Korea,” he said.

“He’s wanted to share different views of the country.

“He knows it isn’t perfect, but he understands that people-to-people contact can contribute a lot to mutual understanding and more peaceful outcomes than traditional approaches.”

An image from Alek Sigley’s Twitter account. Picture: Twitter / Alek Sigley

Sweden, which has an embassy in North Korea, was able to appeal to authorities in Pyongyang on Australia’s behalf during a meeting on Wednesday.

Mr Sigley was born in Perth and studied in Canberra at the Australian National University.

He had been studying a masters in Korean literature in Pyongyang.