US Journalists Face Trial in North Korea

By VOA News - Two American journalists are facing trial in North Korea on charges of illegally entering the country and hostile acts.

Their families back home pleaded for leniency, but the trial could send them to a labor camp for 10 years.

North Korea's Korean Central News Agency said Thursday that the trial would start at 3 p.m. (0600 GMT) local time.

These undated photo show American journalists Laura Ling, right, and Euna Lee (File)

The journalists, Euna Lee and Laura Ling, of U.S. media outlet Current TV, were arrested while working on a story near the border between North Korea and China. Their trial is being held at one of the North's top courts.

The two were detained by North Korean border guards on March 17 while researching a story about refugees fleeing the North to China.

The families have pleaded for clemency. Speaking at a vigil Wednesday night in California, Laura Ling's sister Lisa Ling (also a TV personality) urged the North Korean government to show leniency and apologized if the women had broken the North's laws.

Some information for this report was provided by AFP, AP and Reuters.