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N Korea to try reporters in June | N Korea to try reporters in June |
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Two US journalists arrested by North Korea near its border with China will face trial on 4 June, North Korea's state-run KCNA news agency reports. | Two US journalists arrested by North Korea near its border with China will face trial on 4 June, North Korea's state-run KCNA news agency reports. |
Euna Lee, a Korean-American, and Laura Ling, a Chinese-American, who work for a California-based internet broadcaster, were detained on 17 March. | |
The pair are charged with illegal entry after allegedly crossing over the border from China, and "hostile acts". | |
Some reports have suggested that they were arrested while on Chinese soil. | Some reports have suggested that they were arrested while on Chinese soil. |
The two were working on a story for Current TV about refugees fleeing the communist North. | |
Fair trial? | |
The official KCNA news agency announced the trial date with a short statement. | |
Reporters Without Borders, a group that campaigns for media freedom, says the two journalists could face up to 10 years of forced labour if convicted of "hostile acts". | |
US President Barack Obama said earlier this month that his administration was especially concerned about their detention. | |
Washington has no diplomatic ties with Pyongyang, and the Swedish embassy has been acting on its behalf. | |
But the last the time the Swedish ambassador was able to see the reporters was on 30 March. | |
Amnesty International has said it is highly unlikely the two women will face a fair trial because of the judicial system's lack of independence or transparency. |