Pastor’s North Korean ordeal ends
Hyeon Soo Lim reunited with family, looks forward to Sunday church service
After 2 1⁄ years detained in North
2 Korea, 62-year-old Canadian pastor Hyeon Soo Lim met his granddaughter for this first time when he arrived in Toronto Saturday morning, his family said.
“We are extremely happy,” said Lim’s son, James, addressing the media at his father’s Mississauga church. “We’re ecstatic and joyful that my father is home. It was surreal in the beginning to witness my father coming off of an airplane after 2 1⁄ years.”
2 While he was in prison, Lim had only ever seen his not yet 1-year-old granddaughter in pictures, James Lim said. “It’s been amazing to see him hold my daughter for the first time.”
James Lim said his father is in good health and is recovering after the “ordeal.”
“Everyone was excited when we heard the news” that he was freed, said Sam Shim, operations manager at Lim’s church, the Light Presbyterian Church, Saturday afternoon.
Lim was detained while on a charitable mission in North Korea in January 2015. He was later sentenced to life in a labour camp, with the regime there saying he had been conducting subversive actions against leader Kim Jong Un.
Lim’s charitable work in North Korea was focused on food security and sustainable farming, the younger Lim said at the news conference.
North Korea’s Central Court granted Lim “sick bail” on humanitarian grounds on Wednesday. Sweden helped facilitate his release as Cana- da does not have an embassy in North Korea.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau confirmed Lim’s freedom Thursday afternoon in a written statement: “The Government of Canada was actively engaged on Mr. Lim’s case at all levels. In particular, I want to thank Sweden, our protecting power in North Korea, for assisting us.”
In a video provided by a spokesperson Saturday, a thin-looking Lim can be seen exiting what appears to be a government jet, smiling and hugging his family.
At the press conference, James Lim joked that his father welcomed the weight loss, adding that he is “in good spirits and is excited to come to church tomorrow. He hasn’t seen the congregation in many years.”
James Lim offered thanks to the dignitaries who helped facilitate his father’s return.
“Thank you Prime Minister Trudeau for your support since this all began, especially to Minister Chrystia Freeland, as well as special adviser Daniel Jean.”
A spokesperson for the family said Lim had visited North Korea 110 times before he was detained.
“For us, we are still curious why it would happen this time,” Lisa Pak said. “We’re going to leave that to debriefing later.”
Pak said she presumed North Korean authorities released Lim because they were concerned over his health.
“I would say he made the best of it, considering the circumstances,” James Lim said, adding the solitude allowed him to connect with God.