The journalists were reportedly taken by North Korean guards near the Chinese border [GALLO/GETTY]

Two US journalists of Korean descent and their guide have been detained by North Korean border guards close to the frontier with China, South Korean media reports have said.

It is believed that the two women journalists, working for a California-based online news company Current TV, were on the China side of the Yalu river, which forms border with North Korea, when they were arrested.

South Korea's YTN channel says the North Korean guards crossed into Chinese territory to arrest the women, after they ignored warnings to stop filming.

Neither the South Korean or US governments have confirmed the reports.

A spokesman for the Chinese foreign ministry in Beijing told reporters that the officials were investigating the report but declined to comment further.

The reports come at a time of mounting tension on the Korean peninsula, with the North accusing the US and South Korea of using joint military exercises as a prelude to invasion.

North Korea has said it will launch a rocket in April that it says will carry an experimental communications satellite into orbit.

The US and North Korea's neighbours believe the launch is a cover for a test of a long-range missile that could potentially carry a warhead as far as US territory.




Bad, bad female reporters taking pictures from another country!! We must cross border to kidnap them!

One of the reporters is Laura Ling, the sister of Lisa Ling, who produced a very unflattering documentary about North Korea - 5 minute preview here - http://channel.nationalgeographic.com/series/explorer/3089/Overview#tab-Videos/02512_04

I wonder how NK has treated her after they found out who her sister was? I don't suppose they will exactly be easier on her because of it - we may not hear from her for a long time. If they ever do release her, I can't wait to hear the reporting she does about it. This could be the turning point in her career, assuming she gets out of there without a lobotomy or something - I had never heard of Laura Ling before.

Mysteriously, Lisa Lings website has suddenly disappeared - www.lisaling.com

If this is true (yet it is still unconfirmed), then where is Hillary and BHO????

Why no word about this from them?

Guess they're stuck there forever.

You never know - just like all those Japanese civilians they kidnapped years ago and kept.

Fact: On day one - "A State Department official tells CNN the United States is working with the Chinese government on the case and has expressed Washington's concern to North Korea through the Swedish Embassy in the North Korean capital, Pyongyang. Sweden represents the United States in North Korea since the United States does not have diplomatic relations with the North."

What should Obama do? Call a joint session of Congress to declare North Korea a Nexis Of Evil, refuse diplomatic channels as an option and send bombers over Pyongyang?

IMO, It sounds like NK is using the same dictum as was Bush's claim of his authority to seize and indefinitely detain as "enemy combatants" anyone anywhere at any time for any reason.

This will be resolved soon enough, it's no international crisis.

Expressing concern. Decisive action indeed.
Joe Biden warned us about something like this. "Mark my words," Biden said. "It will not be six months before the world tests Barack Obama like they did John Kennedy....."Remember I said it standing here, if you don't remember anything else I said," Biden continued. "Watch, we're going to have an international crisis, a generated crisis, to test the mettle of this guy.....And he's going to need help . . . to stand with him. Because it's not going to be apparent initially"
North Korea must be shaking in it's boots about Obama expressing concern.

Well, I guess Obama the Magnificent can send them a video tape, like he did to Iran. That'll show them.

Come on now - we all know things are being done behind the scenes.

I guess I don't understand what more at this point you all think the Obama administration should do besides what is already being done ... http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7962653.stm

We don't yet know all the facts about this. It may only be a case of two overzealous newshounds trying to make a name for themselves, who knowingly or unknowingly crossed the border into North Korea. In the US they're known as illegal immigrants and likewise are subject to arrest.

In any case, this will be over soon enough. NK will claim bragging rights by capturing "spies" and "generously" releasing them, the US will claim to have "rescued" American citizens diplomatically, and our two junior reporters will emerge from this with the scoop of their young careers, making the rounds being interviewed on news networks, talk shows and People magazine - propelling them to journalistic superstardom.
Its a win-win-win for everyone.