Canadian pastor sentenced to life, hard labour in North Korea, family remains hopeful

CBC Radio | Posted: December 17, 2015 1:25 PM | Last Updated: December 17, 2015

Image | North Korea Detained Canadian

Caption: Hyeon Soo Lim, center, who pastors the Light Korean Presbyterian Church in Toronto, is escorted to his sentencing in Pyongyang, North Korea, Wednesday, Dec. 16, 2015. North Korea's Supreme Court sentenced a Canadian pastor to life in prison with hard labor on Wednesday for what it called crimes against the state. (AP Photo/Jon Chol Jin)

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Audio | The Current : Canadian pastor sentenced to life, hard labour in North Korea

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On Wednesday, we learned that Canadian Pastor, Reverend Hyeon Soo Lim had been sentenced to life in prison with hard labour in North Korea. He went there on a humanitarian trip in February.

Mr. Lim was charged with harming the dignity of the supreme leadership, and trying to use religion to destroy the North Korean system, among other charges. His trial lasted ninety-minutes.

Lisa Pak is the spokesperson for Hyeon Soo Lim's family and for the Light Korean Presbyterian Church in Mississauga. She joined Anna Maria in our Toronto studio.

Media Video | (not specified) : Trudeau: 'Tremendous concern' about Toronto pastor in N. Korea

Caption: Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says Canadian consular officials have not had access to Rev. Hyeon Soo Lim since his sentencing.

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This segment was produced by The Current's Josh Flear.

Canadian pastor sentenced to life, hard labour in North Korea, family remains hopeful

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