Rev. Lim Hyeon-soo, a Canadian pastor missing since January after visiting the DPRK, has been detained by the North Korean government, Lim’s family confirmed to CNN on Wednesday.

A spokesperson for Lim’s family told CNN that Canadian officials had been in touch with them after receiving confirmation of Lim’s detention from Pyongyang.

“The Lim family and the church community is asking fellow Canadians and the international community to continue praying for his release and safe return home,” CNN reported the Lim family as saying in an emailed statement.

“We are aware of a Canadian citizen detained in North Korea. Consular officials