North Korea says will try detained U.S. journalists

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SEOUL, April 24 (Yonhap) -- North Korea said Friday that it will put to trial two
U.S. female journalists detained in the country, announcing that its
investigation into their alleged illegal entry and "hostile acts" has been
concluded.

The American journalists -- Euna Lee and Laura Ling from San Francisco-based
Current TV, started by former U.S. Vice President Al Gore -- were arrested by
North Korea near its border with China on March 17.
Pyongyang said on March 31 that an investigation was under way and that it was
preparing to indict them on charges of illegally entering the country and
engaging in unspecified "hostile acts." North Korea also said consular contact
was allowed and that the American reporters were being treated "according to the
relevant international laws."
The U.S. State Department said last week diplomacy was under way to free the
Americans. The Swedish embassy in the North have been handling affairs involving
the American citizens in North Korea, with which Washington does not have
diplomatic relations.
"We're working through a number of different diplomatic channels to try to see
what we can do to get these folks released," State Department spokesman Robert
Wood said.
Tensions have sharply risen since North Korea's rocket launch on April 5, which
the U.N. Security Council swiftly condemned as violating a U.N. resolution
barring its ballistic activity.
North Korea insisted the launch is part of its peaceful program to develop space
and, in protest of the U.N. action, withdrew from the six-party talks on ending
its nuclear programs last week.
The Americans' detention is the third since 1994, when North Korea held a U.S.
pilot whose military chopper was shot down after straying into North Korea.
Two years later, another American citizen, Evan Hunziker, were held for three
months on suspicion of spying after swimming in the Yalu River bordering North
Korea and China. Gov. Bill Richardson of New Mexico, then a U.S. congressman,
flew to Pyongyang to successfully negotiate their release.
A South Korean worker remains in detention in North Korea for a fourth week on
allegations of criticizing Pyongyang's political system and trying to incite a
local female employee to defect.
hkim@yna.co.kr
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