'I committed a criminal act, I'm sorry': North Korea expels Hong Kong-based missionary

North Korea yesterday expelled to Beijing the Hong Kong-based missionary it had accused of distributing religious materials.

Australian John Short, 75, was released after he gave North Korean authorities a written confession apologising for spreading Bible tracts at a temple on February 16, the birthday of the late "Dear Leader" Kim Jong-il.

"I request the forgiveness of the DPRK for my actions. I am willing to bow down on my knees to request this tolerance of the DPRK and the Korean people," he wrote, referring to the full name of the country, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.

Watch: North Korea deports detained Hong Kong-based Australian missionary

Short, who has lived in Hong Kong for 50 years but is not a permanent resident, was met by Australian consular officials on arrival in Beijing.