(4th LD) N. Korea detains two American journalists

(ATTN: ADDS more details in paras 11-12)
By Lee Chi-dong
SEOUL, March 19 (Yonhap) -- North Korea and the United States are in secret talks
over the two American journalists being detained by the communist nation, a
diplomatic source here said Thursday, with the negotiations delicate given the
countries lack of formal diplomatic relations.
"Two reporters working for a U.S.-based Internet news media outlet, including a
Korean-American, were detained by North Korean authorities earlier this week, and
they remain in custody there," the source said.
The journalists, both women, were videotaping a scene near the North's border
with China despite repeated warnings by North Korean border guards, according to
the source.
They were arrested after accidentally crossing into North Korea, the source said,
adding it was hard to predict how the North will handle the situation.
The journalists from the California-based online media outlet Current TV were
identified as Euna Lee, editor of the news service section, and Laura Ling, a
reporter.
South Korean foreign ministry officials refused to confirm the reports, saying
the matter is between North Korea and the United States, but a ministry official
later told Yonhap News Agency that he was "aware of the incident."
The U.S. Embassy in Seoul declined to comment.
"The State Department instructed us to refer any related inquiry to Washington,"
said Aaron Tarver, press attache at the embassy.
Diplomatic observers said the U.S. seems to be trying to resolve the issue
quietly due to concerns over the safety of the detainees.
They said North Korea is likely to release the journalists in the near future. "A
U.S. government official may visit North Korea to bring them back," an observer
said.
Meanwhile, a South Korean pastor who claimed to have helped the journalists'
coverage said by phone that they seemed to have crossed the border accidentally.
"I warned them that they should not be close to the border," Chun Ki-won said,
adding that they were scheduled to leave on Saturday.
Foreign media staff wanting to visit North Korea are required to obtain special
visas. American citizens were confined in North Korea in the 1990s, but the North
eventually released them.
Then US congressman Bill Richardson in 1996 negotiated the release of Evan
Hunziker, who was held for three months on suspicion of spying after swimming in
the Yalu river.
In 1994, Richardson helped negotiate the release of a U.S. pilot whose military
chopper was shot down after straying into North Korea.
sam@yna.co.kr
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