Swedish ambassador meets with North Korean official to discuss imprisoned Canadian pastor

A North Korean official and the Swedish ambassador to the country met on Thursday to discuss the situation of a Canadian pastor who was sentenced to life imprisonment and hard labor.

Hyeon Soo Lim, a pastor of Light Korean Presbyterian Church of Mississauga, Ont., received the harsh sentence last December for what the court considered as crimes against the state, The Associated Press reported.

The North Korean Foreign Ministry official and Ambassador Torkel Stiernlöf discussed the issue of consular visits to the Canadian pastor. The ambassador also met with the director general of the European Department 2 on the same day.

Lim's family said that they are grateful to the Swedish officals for their efforts to bring the pastor back home.

"We would like to extend our particular gratitude to the Swedish officials for their ongoing support and work in aiding our government on behalf of our family," the pastor's family said in a statement.

"We hope to see him home soon." they added.

The ambassador also brought up the issue of consular affairs for at least two other Americans who were detained for espionage, subversion and other activities deemed to be against the state.

The North Korean official has stated that the issue of the American detainees will be handled according to a wartime law. The official did not elaborate but analysts have speculated that it could mean that the detainees would be treated harshly under the said law.

The Swedish Embassy in North Korea's capital of Pyongyang has assumed consular responsibility for the U.S. and Canadian citizens because the two countries have no proper representation in the communist regime, according to NK News.

Lim, who is in his 60s, has been traveling regularly to North Korea on a humanitarian mission since 1997. He aided in the construction of nursing homes and child-care centers n the country, according to UPI.

Last month, it was reported that Lim has been hospitalized for two months due to his failing health. The pastor's family had suspicions that Lim's health has already started to deteriorate by the time he appeared on CNN last January.

When the CNN reporter asked him if he needed anything, the pastor replied: "Nothing much, just a Bible. I have requested one, but it has not arrived yet."

"I also really need letters from my family. I have received letters twice from my family," he added.