Let send in Keith and entire MSNBC gang
(LEAD) North Korea says will try detained U.S. journalists
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.