North Korea wants to put US reporters on trial

North Korea wants to put US reporters on trial Seoul - North Korea wants to put two detained US journalists on trial for charges of illegal entry and suspected "hostile acts," state-run media said Tuesday.

Authorities were already working on an indictment on "the basis of the already confirmed suspicions," the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said.

The two women, Korean-American Euna Lee and Chinese-American Laura Ling, were arrested two weeks ago by guards at the Chinese-North Korean border where they were working on a story.

"The illegal entry of US reporters into the DPRK (North Korea) and their suspected hostile acts have been confirmed by evidence and their statements," KCNA said.

The two journalists are granted access to consular services, the report added. A date for the trial has not been set.

US media, quoting the US State Department, said a Swedish diplomat was able to talk to the two women on the weekend. The United States and North Korea have no formal diplomatic relations.

Lee and Ling were collecting information on North Koreans fleeing their country and were visiting a spot on the border where many refugees flee to China. (dpa)

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