John Short speaks out about North Korea detention

Australian missionary John Short, who was deported from North Korea earlier this week, has spoken out about his experience in detention.

John Short, 75, was detained in Pyongyang after leaving Christian pamphlets at a tourist site.

In a statement to the Australian Associated Press, John Short said he was subjected to “gruelling interrogations”.

“There were two-hour sessions each morning, which were repeated again in the afternoons,” the Hong Kong-based missionary said.

John Short also said being confined was stressful.

“This I found to be most painful physically as an active senior person,” he said.

John Short said he told his interrogators he was not a spy.

“I confessed that I had knowingly broken the law in what I believed is my God-directed duty and as I do in every place and country I visit,” he said.

Religious activity is severely restricted in North Korea and missionaries have been arrested on many previous occasions.