G20 Osaka: world leaders offer Australia help in tracking down missing Alek Sigley in North Korea

His Japanese wife usually speaks to him daily by WhatsApp, but has not heard from him since Monday and says she is ‘very concerned’

The Australian prime minister says leaders at the Group of 20 summit have expressed sympathy and a willingness to assist

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Australia Prime Minister Scott Morrison has welcomed international support as concerns mount over whereabouts of Australian student in North Korea. Photo: Bloomberg

Published: 9:15am, 28 Jun 2019Updated: 9:01pm, 28 Jun 2019

Australia’s prime minister said he has discussed the disappearance of an Australian student in North Korea with other world leaders attending the Group of 20 summit and accepted offers to find out what has happened to him.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the plight of Alek Sigley had been raised with him by world leaders attending the meetings in Osaka, Japan, including Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.

“We’re talking to our partners in that part of the world to get to the bottom of what has occurred here,” Morrison told Nine Network television.

“It’s obviously very concerning. I’m very concerned about it. We’ve had a lot of sympathy also expressed and willingness to assist by other countries,” he added.

Australian student Alek Sigley is seen in this undated photo. Photo: Reuters

Morrison, who dined with President Donald Trump on Thursday night, declined to say which government leaders he had discussed the disappearance with and what help had been offered.

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