A Korean-Canadian pastor took part in a press conference on Thursday, admitting to alleged crimes against the state in his first appearance in Pyongyang since his detention in the country in late January.

Reverend Hyeon-soo Lim, filmed by the Associated Press (AP) reading a statement, admitted to “severely slandering” the DPRK leadership and system in order to overthrow it and establish a religious state in North Korea.

“The most serious crimes I have committed are that I severely slandered and impaired the supreme dignity and system of this country and perpetrated a scheme to overthrow the state,” Lim said.

“In order