The condition of Reverend Hyeon Soo Lim, Korean Canadian pastor who was sentenced to hard labor for life in North Korea, was released to the public on January 10 through an interview with CNN. Lim said he continues to pray everyday, and that he is at peace regardless of the outcome.
"I pray for the country, and the people," Lim said in the interview. "I pray for North and South Korea to be unified so a situation like mine won't happen again."
Lim, who used to head Light Presbyterian Church in Toronto, was found guilty of numerous charges by North Korea's Supreme Court, including criticizing North Korean leaders, trying to subvert the North Korean government using religion, spreading negative propaganda about the country to foreign countries, and helping North Koreans defect from the country. He is now laboring in the North Korean prison, alone, eight hours a day for six days each week by "digging holes" to plant apple trees, according to the interview.
When asked by the CNN reporter how he is feeling, he says with a slight smile that he's "fine." The reporter notes that his condition "looks healthy enough," but adds, "though his loose fitting prison clothes make it hard to tell if he has lost weight." He receives three meals per day and medical care, the report says.
Lim told the reporter that he has not been forced to any North Korean ideology.
He also said that he doesn't need much, but did request for a Bible. He added he "really need[s] letters from [his] family."
"I have realized so keenly how valuable my family is, how precious it is to me," Lim told CNN. "Family is a precious gift from God. I would like to tell my family I love them so much."
Lim is known to have visited North Korea over 100 times on humanitarian trips. He was arrested during his last trip into the country on January 30, and since then, Korean communities in South Korea, Canada, and the U.S. have held numerous prayer meetings for his release. Lim's sentence to hard labor for life was announced through reports on December 16.
Lisa Pak, who has been acting as the spokesperson for Lim's family and church, said soon after the announcement of Lim's sentence that Lim's supporters are hopeful that his sentence in prison will grant more leeway for diplomatic talks.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau told reporters that the Canadian government has "tremendous concern about it [his imprisonment]."
"The issues of North Korea's governance and judicial system are well-known and we are very concerned about someone being sentenced to life in North Korea," he said. "We need to be able to meet with and ensure that Canadians are being properly treated everywhere around the world, including in North Korea and we will be continuing to press North Korean authorities to allow us access."
Meanwhile, an online petition demanding Lim's release from prison has been ongoing, and has some 120,777 signatures as of January 11, 5:40 PM EST.
