Alek Sigley disappearance: Swedish envoy in North Korea for possible talks about missing Australian

A special envoy from Sweden has arrived in North Korea on behalf of the Australian Government for potential discussions about missing Perth man, tour guide Alek Sigley.

Mr Sigley, who lives in the hermit kingdom, has not communicated with relatives or been active on his social media accounts for more than a week.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison today prayed for the 29-year-old at a church service in Canberra, ahead of the opening of Federal Parliament.

Mr Morrison also today confirmed Australia is working through the Swedish Government’s envoy because the Coalition does not have an embassy in North Korea.

“My prayers are with Alek Sigley and his family,” Mr Morrison said.

"This is a troubling situation and we will continue to use every effort we have to locate him and hopefully bring him home safely."

Mr Morrison’s message also come after discussions at the G20 summit in Osaka turned to Mr Sigley over the weekend and the Prime Minister spoke to the tour guide’s family.

The 29-year-old’s social media accounts have been taken down by his family to prevent unnecessary speculation online, however his Twitter account has remained live.

Mr Sigley's disappearance comes three years after US man Otto Warmbier was seized from a tour group in North Korea and convicted on charges of trying to steal a propaganda poster, and then sentenced to 15 years of hard labour.

North Korea, which has denied accusations by relatives that it tortured the college student, has said he was provided "medical treatments and care with all sincerity".

The country also insisted the US agree to pay $2.8 million in medical costs in 2017 before it released Warmbier while he was in a coma.

While the majority of Americans detained by North Korea have been released in relatively good condition, Warmbier, a student at the University of Virginia, died in June last year shortly after he was flown home comatose after 17 months in captivity.