Canadian diplomats visit pastor detained in North Korea

Canadian officials paid a visit to a pastor who was sentenced to life imprisonment with hard labor in North Korea for alleged crimes against the state.

Hyeon Soo Lim, a pastor of Light Korean Presbyterian Church of Mississauga, Ont., received the harsh sentence last December. He was convicted by Pyongyang's Supreme Court for allegedly trying to use religion to destroy the North Korean system.

He was also convicted for helping U.S. and South Korean authorities lure and abduct North Korean citizens, according to CTV News.

According to a report from Korean Central News Agency, the delegation that arrived in North Korea on Tuesday was led by Sarah Taylor, director general for North Asia and Oceania for Global Affairs Canada. The Canadian officials will discuss Lim's case as well as other issues. The officials were able to meet with Lim, but no further details were revealed.

On Thursday, Global Affairs Canada spokesperson Kristine Racicot confirmed that a ministry delegation was able to visit the pastor.

"The Government of Canada is very concerned about the health, well-being and continued detention of Mr. Lim. We have been actively engaged on this difficult case," she said, according to The Star.

Canada, which does not have diplomatic relations with North Korea, was able to arrange the visit with the help of the Swedish embassy.

"Minister (Stéphane) Dion and Parliamentary Secretary Omar Alghabra have met with Pastor Lim's son, and consular officials are ‎working actively to secure the release of Mr. Lim," Racicot continued.

She added that privacy considerations have kept the government from revealing further details about Lim's case, but she assured that it remains a priority.

Lim has made more than 100 humanitarian mission trips to North Korea since 1997. Before his conviction, he publicly confessed to criticizing Kim Jong Un's regime.

In October, Canadian diplomats disclosed that Lim had been hospitalized for two months due to deteriorating health.

Lim's congregation is praying for his release every Sunday. "We are hopeful that this (Global Affairs Canada visit) is a positive sign that we will see Reverend Lim released and home soon," Richard Ha, a spokesman for the congregation, said in a statement.

"We are also grateful to the Canadian government and for the community's support," he added.