The United States has received information that two American journalists have been detained in North Korea, a U.S. Embassy source said Thursday.
The embassy confirmation came after South Korea's YTV television reported that the journalists, both Korean-American women, were detained Tuesday by North Korean border security officers after refusing orders to stop filming from the Chinese side of the border.
The North Korean security officers actually crossed over the Tumen River to the Chinese side of the border to detain the women and bring them to North Korea, it said.
Yonhap News Agency quoted diplomatic sources as saying the two reporters work for U.S. Internet news media.
The incident comes at a time of high tension on the Korean Peninsula, with North Korea having informed international organizations of its plan to launch what it calls a communications satellite between April 4 and 8.
South Korea, Japan and the United States suspect it is a cover for the test-firing of a long-range ballistic missile.
They have warned North Korea of a harsh international response if it goes ahead with a missile or satellite launch, including raising the issue at the U.N. Security Council and possible expansion of unilateral sanctions.
They say any such launch by North Korea would violate existing Security Council resolutions prohibiting Pyongyang from engaging in ballistic missile activities because it would employ the same technology as that for firing a missile.
© Wire reports
12 Comments
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some14some
Will be released unharmed (shortly), i believe.
Dennis Bauer
some14some just like those dissappeared japanese? this could start a new diplomatic incident.
Gaijinocchio
That's right, if there's anything anyone knows about NK, it's that that honesty is not on their agenda.
If they disappear, it will be America, and possibly China, that will be on their doorstep next. Let's hope Dear Leader has some sanity left.
ilcub76
China should say something about this -- is it not a breach of China's sovereignty?
nath
You can bet that they did not have permission to be there and engaged in filming. Stupid. Stupid. Stupid.
Badge213
What does that have to do with North Korea crossing over into China? That'd be like Mexico arresting you for someone you did in Texas.
SuperLib
You need permission from North Korea to film in China?
mistersmarmy
maybe they are stupid, but this looks bad on China - NK security officers going into China - whats that all about??? First NK fires a missile across Japan and now its military enters China - this is a serious diplomatic incident....
bishamonten
Well let’s now wait and see if China really has joined the international community. Because if they don’t start demanding the return of these women it is because they still hand in glove with North Korea.
Think about what was reported, “both Korean-American women”, so from the Korean side of the river these guards had no way of knowing that two women were not Chinese or any other Asian. China in particular needs to think about this & maybe become a little more supportive of the Japanese abduction issue.
OssanAmerica
Time for China to show her true colors. Actually I doubt they condone NK guards crossing into Chinese territory and acting without jurisdiction. Meantime, where's the really strong "return them unharmed now or else" statement from Hillary? Gotta hurry up! Force, Anger and Belligerence are the only thing these NKs understand.
neverknow2
America has more bombs than Japan. They'll be free soon!
Sarge
The North Koreans love kidnapping people.