North Korea has released a Canadian pastor who was sentenced to hard labour for life in December 2015.

Reverend Hyeon Soo Lim was a pastor with the Light Korean Presbyterian Church in Mississauga, ON. He had travelled to North Korea over 100 times working to set up an orphanage and care home for seniors. He was arrested on a variety of charges in 2015.

North Korea's official news agency, Korea Central News Agency, confirmed the release of the pastor saying he was "released on sick bail according to the decision of the Central Court of the DPRK on Auguest 9, 2017, from the humanitarian viewpoint."

A delegation of Canadian officials had just arrived in North Korea to speak with officials again on securing Lim's release.