Hyeon Soo Lim, the Canadian pastor serving a life sentence in North Korea for crimes against the state told CNN in an interview he spends eight hours a day digging holes at a labour camp where he is the only prisoner.
Lim, who was born in South Korea before emigrating to Canada, has been held by the North Korean government since last February. He was sentenced in December to hard labour for life for attempting to overthrow the North’s regime.
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He told CNN in an interview that he has not seen any other prisoners and works eight hours a day, six days a week, digging holes for the planting of apple trees in the prison orchard.
“I wasn’t originally a laborer, so the labor was hard at first,” Lim told CNN through an interpreter. “But now I’ve gotten used to it.”
Lim is pastor of the Light Korean Presbyterian Church in Mississauga, Ont., with a congregation of roughly 3,000. The church has previously said he visited North Korea more than 100 times since 1997 where he supports an orphanage and nursing home.
Currently Lim is the only Western citizen known to be held currently in North Korea.
While he faced charges that included allegedly harming the dignity of the supreme leadership, and trying to use religion to destroy the North Korean system. He told CNN he was sentenced for openly criticizing North Korea’s three generations of leaders.
READ MORE: Toronto pastor detained in North Korea makes first appearance, admits guilt
“I admit I’ve violated this government’s authority, system and order,” Lim said in the interview.
Lim hopes that he will one day be allowed to return home.
“Nobody knows if I will ever go home, but that is my hope. I miss my family. I am longing to see them again, and my congregation,” he told CNN.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau had previously condemned the prison sentence.
“Issues about North Korea’s governance and judicial system are well-known,” Trudeau told reporters in December.
“We are very concerned about someone being sentenced to life in North Korea and we certainly hope to be able to engage with this individual and stand up for his rights.”
*With files from the Associated Press
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