The family of Reverend Hyeon Soo Lim, a Korean Canadian pastor who has been detained in North Korea for over nine months, has expressed hopes that the new Canadian leadership would take action to secure Lim's safe return.
Justin Trudeau, the Prime Minister of Canada who assumed office earlier this month, will be attending two meetings with international leaders in the upcoming week, including a meeting in Turkey with leaders of the Group of 20, and an Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation meeting in the Philippines.
"We are hoping that the Trudeau government takes full advantage of whatever means and platform available, i.e. APEC, to bring international awareness to Mr. Lim's detainment that would help move diplomatic talks to a speedy and positive resolution," said Lisa Pak, the spokeswoman for Lim's family and church.
The status of Lim's condition remains unclear. The last and only time Lim made a public appearance was in late July in a televised press conference that was released to the public through North Korea's news agency. Lim admitted to alleged crimes that he plotted to overthrow the government during the press conference. Since then, little has been heard about his condition or the progress being made for his release.
Since Lim's detainment in early February, pastors and leaders in Canada, the U.S., and South Korea have written letters calling on the Canadian government, the North Korean government, and the United Nations to take appropriate actions to ensure Lim's safe return home. Prayer meetings have also taken place on Lim's behalf, including in Los Angeles, Philadelphia, Atlanta, and New York.
"Pastor Hyeon Soo Lim went to help people in North Korea solely for a humanitarian purpose, purely to put the love of Jesus Christ into action," said a letter from pastors in the greater New York area written in March. "We call on the North Korean government to release Lim and allow him to return safely to his family and loved ones, and we call on the Canadian government and the United Nations to put in their efforts to help secure his release."
"We deeply regret that this [Lim's detainment] has happened, and we ask that the North Korean government make favorable arrangements as we are particularly concerned about Reverend Lim's health," wrote the Korean Presbyterian Church Abroad (KPCA), the denomination that Light Presbyterian Church is affiliated with, in June. "Lim's detainment will have a negative effect on the potential opportunities for humanitarian aid in North Korea, and the humanitarian aid organizations all over the world will be paying close attention for Lim's release while he is detained."