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N Korea sentences Canada pastor to life in jail N Korea sentences Canada pastor to life in jail
(35 minutes later)
North Korea's highest court has sentenced a Canadian pastor to a life term of hard labour for "crimes against the state", reports say. North Korea's highest court has sentenced a Canadian Christian pastor to a life term of hard labour for "crimes against the state".
Hyeon Soo Lim, 60, was arrested in the capital Pyongyang after he travelled there in January for humanitarian work.Hyeon Soo Lim, 60, was arrested in the capital Pyongyang after he travelled there in January for humanitarian work.
The Toronto-based pastor, who is of South Korean origin, reportedly confessed earlier to a "subversive plot" to overthrow the government and set up a "religious state". The Toronto-based pastor, who is of South Korean origin, was shown at a news conference earlier confessing to a plot to overthrow the government and set up a "religious state".
North Korea bans religious activity.North Korea bans religious activity.
The authorities periodically detain foreigners for religious or missionary activity and similar cases have seen staged public confessions from prisoners.The authorities periodically detain foreigners for religious or missionary activity and similar cases have seen staged public confessions from prisoners.
'False propaganda' Handcuffs
Mr Lim was reportedly given the sentence after a brief trial at the North Korean supreme court. Mr Lim was sentenced after a 90-minute trial at the North Korean Supreme Court.
The court found him guilty of joining the US and South Korea in an anti-North Korea human rights "racket" and fabricating and circulating false propaganda materials tarnishing the country's image, China's Xinhua news agency reports. He was convicted of joining the US and South Korea in an anti-North Korea human rights "racket" and fabricating and circulating false propaganda materials tarnishing the country's image.
He was also accused of funding and helping "defectors" to escape, in some cases through Mongolia, Xinhua adds. He was also accused of funding and helping "defectors" to escape, in some cases through Mongolia.
North Korean state media KCNA have not reported the court's decision. The pastor entered and left the court in handcuffs flanked by two public security officers in uniform, the Associated Press news agency reports.
The handcuffs were removed in court during the trial, it adds. The pastor kept his head bowed most of the time and answered questions in a subdued tone.
Mr Lim and his colleagues travelled to Pyongyang on 31 January as part of a humanitarian mission. His family said it was to support a nursing home, nursery and orphanage.Mr Lim and his colleagues travelled to Pyongyang on 31 January as part of a humanitarian mission. His family said it was to support a nursing home, nursery and orphanage.
Mr Lim, who heads the Light Korean Presbyterian Church, had made numerous humanitarian aid missions to North Korea for nearly two decades, the Church said.Mr Lim, who heads the Light Korean Presbyterian Church, had made numerous humanitarian aid missions to North Korea for nearly two decades, the Church said.
He was detained in February and in July a KCNA report said Mr Lim had given a press conference in Pyongyang where he admitted to using humanitarian work as a "guise" for "subversive plots and activities in a sinister bid to build a religious state".He was detained in February and in July a KCNA report said Mr Lim had given a press conference in Pyongyang where he admitted to using humanitarian work as a "guise" for "subversive plots and activities in a sinister bid to build a religious state".
He also reportedly admitted to giving lectures that "North Korea should be collapsed with the love of 'God'", and to helping the US and South Korea to aid North Korean defectors.He also reportedly admitted to giving lectures that "North Korea should be collapsed with the love of 'God'", and to helping the US and South Korea to aid North Korean defectors.