North Korea sets date for trial of two U.S. reporters

SEOUL, May 14 (Yonhap) -- Two U.S. female journalists detained in North Korea for
illegally entering the country will stand trial in Pyongyang on June 4, the
North's news agency said Thursday.
"The Central Court of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea decided to try
(the) American journalists on June 4 according to the indictment of the competent
organ," the Korean Central News Agency said in a one-sentence report.
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 Korean guards near the border with China on March 17.
Pyongyang said on March 31 that an investigation was underway and that it was
preparing to indict them on charges of illegally entering the country and
engaging in unspecified "hostile acts." On April 24, the North said the
investigation was completed and that the journalists would be put on trial.
North Korea earlier said consular contact was allowed and that the American
reporters were being treated "according to the relevant international laws."
hkim@yna.co.kr
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