Student, 29, believed to be the only Australian living in North Korea is arrested after tweeting about life in the secretive country and running 'tours' for visitors An Australian exchange student who ran tours in North Korea has gone missing Alek Sigley was arrested after series of tweets about life in repressive country The 29-year-old has shared pictures and stories about his life in North Korea Department of Foreign Affairs confirmed Australian man reportedly detained By Kelsey Wilkie For Daily Mail Australia Published: 23:58 BST, 26 June 2019 | Updated: 00:38 BST, 27 June 2019 6 Viewcomments An Australian exchange student who ran tours in North Korea has been arrested after posting about the country's secretive regime. Alek Sigley, 29, who is believed to be the only Australian living in North Korea, went missing this week after a series of tweets about his life in the repressive country. The Department of Foreign Affairs has confirmed an Australian man has reportedly been detained in North Korea. Alek Sigley (pictured), 29, was arrested after a series of tweets about his life in the repressive country The Department of Foreign Affairs has confirmed Australian man has reportedly been detained in North Korea - it is urgently seeking clarification 'The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is providing consular assistance, in accordance with the Consular Services Charter, to the family of an Australian man who has been reported as being detained in North Korea. 'The Department is urgently seeking clarification.' Mr Sigley's last social media post on June 24 was about the Ryugyong Hotel, which remained famously unfinished after construction was halted in 1992 as North Korea entered an economic crisis. 'New signage above the main entrance to the Ryugyong Hotel bearing its name and logo. A sign that it will soon be open for business?' Mr Sigley's post read. Sigley has been studying Korean Literature at Kim Il Sung University since April 2018 as well as running tours. He has been open about sharing his experiences living in North Korea, writing an editorial in The Guardian about his time there. 'As a long-term foreign resident on a student visa, I have nearly unprecedented access to Pyongyang,' he wrote. 'I'm free to wander around the city, without anyone accompanying me. Interaction with locals can be limited at times, but I can shop and dine almost anywhere I want.' North Korea is a 'Reconsider your need to travel' destination according to the Department of Foreign Affairs. Mr Sigley's last social media post (pictured) on June 24 was about the Ryugyong Hotel, which remained famously unfinished after construction was halted in 1992 as North Korea entered an economic crisis Foreigners have not been detained in North Korea since the death of University of Virginia student Otto Warmbier in 2017 The department website says advises against travelling to North Korea due to the very different laws and regulations affecting foreign visitors and the risks from intermittent threats against international interests. 'If you decide to travel despite the risks, stay as short a time as possible, eliminate unnecessary activities, and review your security arrangements.' Foreigners have not been detained in North Korea since the death of University of Virginia student Otto Warmbier in 2017. He had been travelling in a group to Pyongyang when he was arrested and detained at the airport. North Korean authorities accused him of committing a hostile act against the country by stealing a propaganda poster from the hotel he was staying in. Otto Warmbier (pictured as he was taken in to custody in Pyongyang last January) has died days after being brought back to the United States in a coma from North Korea The 22-year-old was carried off a private plane last week after touching down in Cincinnati to be reunited with his family 17 months after he was jailed. He returned in an almost vegetative state and had suffered extensive brain loss He was kept there after giving a tearful press conference and was not seen again until he was released by the country in a vegetative state. North Korean authorities dubiously blamed his condition on a bout of food poisoning which they said he suffered while imprisoned and released him on 'humanitarian grounds'. Mr Warmbier then died six days after being brought back to the United States. More to come Read more: Share or comment on this article: All rights reserved for this news site dailymail and under his responsibility