Canada voiced consternation on Wednesday after a Canadian pastor was sentenced in North Korea to life in jail with hard labor.
South Korean-born Hyeon Soo Lim is the latest in a series of foreign missionaries to be arrested, deported or jailed for allegedly meddling in North Korean state affairs.
"Canada is dismayed at the unduly harsh sentence given to Mr. Lim by a North Korean court, particularly given his age and fragile health," Canada's foreign ministry said in a statement.
The government has not released Lim's age, citing privacy concerns.
The statement said Canadian consular officials have been denied access to Lim and the government as well as his family and friends "remain concerned for his rights and well-being, and wish to see him return to Canada."
"This is a serious violation of the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations and the right of states to have consular access to their citizens," the spokesman added.
Canada voiced consternation on Wednesday after a Canadian pastor was sentenced in North Korea to life in jail with hard labor.
South Korean-born Hyeon Soo Lim is the latest in a series of foreign missionaries to be arrested, deported or jailed for allegedly meddling in North Korean state affairs.
“Canada is dismayed at the unduly harsh sentence given to Mr. Lim by a North Korean court, particularly given his age and fragile health,” Canada’s foreign ministry said in a statement.
The government has not released Lim’s age, citing privacy concerns.
The statement said Canadian consular officials have been denied access to Lim and the government as well as his family and friends “remain concerned for his rights and well-being, and wish to see him return to Canada.”
“This is a serious violation of the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations and the right of states to have consular access to their citizens,” the spokesman added.
