Church wants North Korea to free Hyeon Soo Lim

An Ontario church wants North Korea to release its pastor, who is being detained in the communist country while there on a humanitarian mission.

The Light Korean Presbyterian Church in Mississauga, Ont., says it also wants the United Nations to step in to help the Canadian government work on the release of Rev. Hyeon Soo Lim.

• Hyeon Soo Lim, Canadian pastor, being held in North Korea, family told

• Hyeon Soo Lim, pastor missing in North Korea, knew travel risk

• Canadian pastor Hyeon Soo Lim missing after aid trip to North Korea

The family hasn't heard from Lim since he went to North Korea on Jan. 31.

Lim, 60, has travelled to North Korea more than 100 times on humanitarian missions, according to family and church spokeswoman Lisa Pak, with much of his work concentrated in the impoverished country's northeastern region of Rason.

Pak has said Lim is facing charges, but could not say what they are.

The church says Lim has demonstrated nothing but "Christ-like compassion" for the people of North Korea.