Missionary arrested in North Korea, John Short, set free

North Korea has deported an Australian missionary arrested for handing out Bible tracts near a Buddhist temple in Pyongyang on Feb. 16, the birthday of late leader Kim Jong Il, according to the Associated Press today.

Image/CIA

According to North Korean state media, 75-year-old John Short had confessed to and apologized for breaking North Korean law. It said he was being released partly in consideration of his age.

“I now realize the seriousness of my insult to the Korean people on February 16th because I made the Korean people angry and for this I truly apologize,” Short was quoted as saying in a written apology, according to separate KCNA report. “I am willing to bow down on my knees to request this tolerance of (North Korea) and the Korean people.”

Mr. Short has arrived in Beijing according to his wife. He was met by Australian consular services.

North Korea’s constitution guarantees freedom of religion, but in practice only sanctioned services are tolerated by the government. Defectors from the country have said that the distribution of Bibles and secret prayer services can mean banishment to a labor camp or execution.