North Korea has just released a video of Canadian citizen Hyeon Soo Lim, pastor of the 3,000-member Light Korean Presbyterian Church in Toronto, confessing before a church congregation in Pyongyang. In the video, the 60-year-old Lim admitted to crimes he committed against the state.
The Canadian pastor traveled to North Korea in January on a routine humanitarian visit. He was detained by North Korean authorities a month after, according to Reuters.
"In order to create the impression that it is God, and not the Worker's Party and this country's government which give things to eat and provide means to live we intentionally drew the cross and wrote the name of the church and Bible phrases on the sacks of provisions that were donated to several parts of the country such as Chongjin and Jagang Province," he said in his speech.
Lim's family, as well as his congregation in Toronto, maintains that the pastor has already made more than 100 trips to North Korea in the past 20 years. They further describe the pastor as a "compassionate and generous man," reports Breitbart.
The footage of Lim's confession was all but spontaneous, as the pastor appeared to be reading from a pre-prepared speech.
"The purpose that I traveled about several parts of the country on the pretext of 'aid' was to build a base to overthrow the system of the country and create a religious state, taking advantage of the policies of the U.S. and South Korean authorities," Lim said.
"The basic purpose that I was so active in the provision of aid to this country in the past was to remove loyalty in the hearts of the North Korean people to their authorities. I deeply, deeply apologize from my heart for my heart, for my indescribable treason," he added.
A spokesperson from the Canadian Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development has stated that the country is deeply concerned about the fate of its citizen.
"Canada is deeply concerned with the case of Mr. Lim who remains detained in North Korea. We continue to advocate for consular access and for a resolution in his case. In the interest of Mr. Lim's case, no further information can be shared," the spokesperson stated.
North Korea has frequently made threats to other countries, especially the U.S.; one of the most recent ones being its threat of cyberattacks that was covered in this related HNGN article.
