Posted on 08/09/2017 12:33:27 PM PDT by SeekAndFind
SEOUL/TORONTO — North Korea freed a Canadian pastor serving a life sentence on humanitarian grounds, the official KCNA news agency said on Wednesday, just hours after the United States warned it would counter any threat from the North with "fire and fury."
There was no clear connection between the release of Hyeon Soo Lim and the heightened rhetoric between Washington and Pyongyang. Canadian officials said on Tuesday a delegation led by the country's national security adviser had gone to North Korea to discuss Lim's case.
Lim, who served in one of the largest churches in Canada, had been sentenced to hard labor for life in December 2015 after North Korea accused him of attempting to overthrow the regime.
"Strategically, North Korea perhaps hopes to engender some goodwill from Canada as tensions rise," said Charles Burton, a former Canadian diplomat in China. "They hope that Canada presents some moderating influence on the Trump administration.
"(But) I do not think it is directly connected to the tensions the U.S. president has ratcheted up. North Korea is concerned he would die in prison."
KCNA said Lim had been released on "sick bail" by the country's Central Court for humanitarian reasons.
Lim, accompanied by his wife and son, is expected to return to Canada on Thursday and will be hospitalized on arrival at his wife's request, a source familiar with the matter said.
(Excerpt) Read more at christianpost.com ...
Funny, he doesn’t look Canadian.
RE: Funny, he doesn’t look Canadian.
How must a Canadian look like?
Was he comatose too?
Flapping heads, and beady little eyes.
Hmmm.
5.56mm
Kim heard Trump’s message. He understood.
This is what they look like on television.
But he speaks Canadian.
Wanna bet Canada paid a ransome...?
Don’t you just love those “turd bucket” hats the Norks wear!
That was a Jackie Mason joke..............
I see whut you did there.
Yup.
Kim couldn’t risk this guy dying in a NORK prison.
Actually, they’re normal-sized hats. North Koreans are so tiny and emaciated that they look like 6-year olds dressing up in daddy’s uniform on Halloween. That, sadly, is NOT a joke.
“Kim heard Trump’s message. He understood.”
That is how I see it.
“Kim heard Trump’s message. He understood.”
The venerable Reuters reporter disagrees with a straight face:
“There was no clear connection between the release of Hyeon Soo Lim and the heightened rhetoric between Washington and Pyongyang.”
#8 Show me Shania Twain and I’ll show you a Canadian I love (saw her perform in DC years ago). What a show! What talent! What looks! It’s Miller Time.
GOD BE PRAISED
I’m willing to bet there’s some back-channel talking going on between the US and NK at some level or the other.
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