Hyeon Soo Lim, Canadian pastor, being held in North Korea, family told

CBC

Updated March 5, 2015 at 5:52 a.m.

Hyeon Soo Lim disappears after aid trip to North Korea

Hyeon Soo Lim, Canadian pastor, being held in North Korea, family told

The family of a Canadian pastor who vanished while on a humanitarian mission in North Korea says they've learned he's being held in the reclusive nation.

The family of Rev. Hyeon Soo Lim has received notice from Canadian officials that Pyongyang is holding the pastor.

"The Lim family and the church community is asking fellow Canadians and the international community to continue praying for his release and safe return home," said a family statement shared Thursday by Lisa Pak, a spokeswoman for the Light Presbyterian Church.

Lim had travelled to North Korea from China with a companion from the church in Mississauga, Ont., who last spoke with him on Jan. 31.

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Pak said the 60-year-old pastor went to North Korea on a humanitarian trip as he had done more than 100 times before over the last nine years.

He first started going when heard about famine and flooding problems in the country.

She doesn't believe Lim would have engaged in any type of proselytizing, which is prohibited in North Korea.

Pak said Lim goes for a few days at time, bringing in goods, making sure they're allocated to the right people, and leaving quickly to avoid problems with officials.

Pak said neither she nor the family wanted to speculate on why he's being held.

Lim was due to return Feb. 4 from what was described as a "routine" trip to a Rajin in northeastern North Korea where the church supports a nursery, orphanage and nursing home.

Caitlin Workman, a spokeswoman with Foreign Affairs, said they are aware of the detention, and consular officials are in contact with the family.

"Canada has long advised and continues to advise against any and all travel by Canadians to North Korea," she said in a statement Thursday.

"Canadians should not travel to North Korea under any circumstance. As there is no resident Canadian government office in the country, the ability of Canadian officials to provide consular assistance is extremely limited."