North Korea says it expelled Australian student accused of spying out of 'humanitarian leniency'

North Korea said on Saturday that Australian student Alek Sigley was spreading anti-Pyongyang propaganda and spying on the country. Sigley was detained for a week, but deported on Thursday after he reportedly pleaded for forgiveness for his activities.

Upon arrival in Tokyo on Thursday, Sigley told reporters that he was in good condition, but did not disclose what happened to him while he was detained. North Korea said Sigley, who was studying at a Pyongyang university and guiding tours in the capital, was providing photos and other materials to news outlets that expressed critical views of North Korea.

One of the news outlets that published Sigley's writing, NK News, said he was not spying for the organization and only contributed columns presenting an "apolitical view of life in Pyongyang" and that he did so transparently.

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North Korea said Sigley "honestly admitted that he had been spying" and the government, therefore, expelled him from the country in an act of "humanitarian leniency."