North Korea has freed a Canadian pastor serving a life sentence on humanitarian grounds, the official KCNA news agency says, just hours after President Donald Trump warned the US 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 labour 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 US 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 is expected to return to Canada on Thursday and will be hospitalised on arrival at his wife's request, a source familiar with the matter said.
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