hankyoreh

March 21

The state-run Korean Central News Agency reported a formal confirmation from Pyongyang of the detention and investigation of two female journalists from the United States

While no specific references were made, Pyongyang announced that the two captured journalists had “illegally entered the country” Tuesday through the Chosun (North Korea)-China border indicating grounds for U.S. liability. In a rare move to confirm detention of prisoners, a noteworthy reference was offered about the ongoing “investigation at the corresponding organization.” While this could simply mean that the investigation has not been concluded, it could also indicate that Pyongyang is not yet indicating how this incident will play out.

“If the (American) journalists came over by mistake, without intention, I think they could be released after investigation with no major problem,” stated an official at the North Korean Embassy in China offering his personal opinion, according to Yonhap News Agency. However, the official also added that the question of whether there are any changes in North Korean-U.S. relations could become a variable influencing the timing of their release.

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