An ethnic Korean humanitarian worker has been released by North Korea after being detained for three months.

The Toronto Star quoted an official of the Canadian Embassy in China as saying that the aid worker, Kim Je-yell, would soon return home to Canada.

The Canadian daily reported Canada's ambassador to Seoul Ted Lipman negotiated for Kim's release in Pyongyang last week. The report added Kim is believed to have been flown to Beijing.

In early November of last year, the Korean Canadian in his 50s was said to have been detained by North Korean authorities on what were described as "national security" matters. Kim had been active in sending aid to the impoverished country for the past decade.