Pastor released from North Korea publishes book

Pastor Lim Hyeon-soo Korea Times file

By Do Je-hae

Pastor Lim Hyeon-soo, a former prisoner in North Korea, has come under media attention once again with his new book about his experiences in the totalitarian country.

A worship service was recently held at the Manrihyun Church in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, to mark the publication of the Korean-Canadian's book "Whom Shall I Fear?" Onnuri Church elder Kim Ha-joong, who formerly served as unification minister and Korea's ambassador to China, was among the guests at the service.

In the book, Lim describes himself as "a man who survived the valley of death with the Lord."

"I can give my life for the unification of my homeland through the Gospel," Lim said in the preface of the book. He describes his 949 days in prison as a "blessing" prepared by God.

"Pastor Lim has visited North Korea more than 150 times and provided a total of about $50 million in humanitarian aid," said Kim, who delivered the congratulatory message at the church service. "I think it's amazing that God had someone who really loves North Korea pray every day in tears in North Korea, not just outside of the country. The book has only been able to deliver limited stories, but it will give readers insights into North Korea."

The book is in four parts, and contains his stories about life before and after being locked up in North Korea. He also shares his experience of missionary work in one of the world's most oppressive regimes that has long crushed religious freedoms. In the book, he talks about the North Koreans he met in prison.

"It is important to remember that the people in North Korea are our brothers," Lim said in an interview in June with a local magazine.

The pastor at the Light Korean Presbyterian Church in Mississauga, Ontario, was released in 2017 after being sentenced to life with hard labor. He was arrested in December 2015 for "crimes against the North Korean regime."

Before being arrested in 2015, he had been conducting humanitarian aid projects in North Korea for over 20 years, providing food and medical aid, helping with agricultural and educational development, among others. He also financially supported nursing homes and orphanages in the country. He had visited North Korea more than 150 times prior to his arrest.