A South Korean pastor recently detained in Russia on espionage charges worked with North Korean escapees in the Far East city of Vladivostok, NK News confirmed on Tuesday.

Baek Kwang-soon served as the Russia representative for Global Love Rice Sharing Foundation and helped defectors in the city near the DPRK border, according to the South Korean religious charity.

“Baek was doing missionary work for us,” said Lee Seon-gu, the head of Global Love Rice Sharing Foundation. “There are all sorts of Russians, Thai and North Korean workers who are poor people, people in need, and we provide them with clothes,