Release International's speaking after the BBC's Rupert Wingfield-Hayes, along with his cameraman Matthew Goddard and producer Maria Byrne were detained on Friday for "disrespectful reporting" which North Korea perceived to be "speaking very ill of the system " in the country.
They were questioned for eight hours before being deported.
North Korea
- One of the worst countries for Christian persecution
- Population is around 24,000,000
- Still technically at war with South Korea
North Korea is consistently ranked the worst country in the world for the persecution of Christians and the situation regarding this journalism team highlights the lack of journalistic freedom - as well as religious freedom - in the country.
Release International has said North Korea's attempts to gain respect by inviting journalists to cover the recent Workers Party Congress have failed because it imprisoned and expelled some of them.
Andrew Boyd, from the charity, told Premier's News Hour: "It's the job of the journalist to speak truth to power. It's the job of the Church to do exactly the same.
"Credit to him [Wingfield-Hayes] for telling it the way he saw it while he was still there in a position where he could be detained - and was.
"What Release and others would say to North Korea is: if you want the respect of the international community, give respect to your citizens.
"Show them the respect they deserve as human beings by granting them freedom - especially freedom of religion."
Listen to Premier's Aaron James speaking to Andrew Boyd here: