OTTAWA -- A Mississauga pastor imprisoned in North Korea since 2015 has been released on humanitarian grounds, according to the country’s state news agency.

News of the release of Hyeon Soo Lim comes just hours after a high-level Canadian delegation, led by the prime minister’s own national security advisor, had arrived in the country in hopes of intervening in his case.

“Rim Hyon Su, a Canadian civilian, was released on sick bail according to the decision of the Central Court of the DPRK on August 9, 2017 from the humanitarian viewpoint,” the KCNA news agency said Wednesday, using the country’s official name, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.

“He had been under the penalty of indefinite hard labor as he conducted hostile deeds against the DPRK,” the news agency said.

Read more:

‘Relief and disbelief’ as Mississauga pastor’s ordeal ends in North Korea

Community rallies for release of GTA pastor jailed in North Korea

Family of Canadian held in North Korea renews calls for help after U.S. student’s death

There was no immediate reaction Wednesday morning from Canadian officials.

Lim, the 62-year-old senior pastor of the Light Presbyterian Church in Mississauga, had made frequent humanitarian visits to North Korea on behalf of his church. But he went missing during a 2015 visit and it was later revealed he had been taken into custody, purportedly for scheming to overthrow Kim Jong Un’s authoritarian regime. The pastor was sentenced to life in a hard labour camp in late 2015.

There are concerns that Lim’s health has suffered while in captivity, spurring diplomatic efforts to seek his release.

This week another delegation in Pyongyang, reportedly headed by Daniel Jean, who serves as Justin Trudeau’s national security advisor.

Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading...

The prime minister’s office on Tuesday would not comment on the members of delegation but expressed concern about the fate of Lim.

“Pastor Lim’s health and well-being remain of utmost importance to the government of Canada as we continue to engage on this case,” said Cameron Ahmad, a spokesperson for Trudeau, said in an email.

With files from Mary Ormsby

Read more about: