North Korea on Thursday set a 4 June trial date for two detained American journalists, further straining relations soured by its rocket launch and threatened nuclear test.

"The Central Court of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea decided to try American journalists on June 4 according to the indictment of the competent organ," the official Korean Central News Agency said.

The one-sentence report gave no details of the charges against the two women, who were detained on 17 March along the narrow Tumen River which marks the border with China.

The North has previously said they would go on trial for "hostile acts" and illegally entering the country. Their trial would be held "on the basis of the confirmed crimes committed by them," it has announced.

Euna Lee, a Korean-American, and Laura Ling, a Chinese-American, were working on a story about refugees fleeing the hardline communist North.

International rights and media freedom groups have urged Pyongyang to release the reporters, who are employed by Current TV in California. Reporters Without Borders has said they face up to 10 years' forced labour if convicted of "hostile acts".

Analysts said Pyongyang is using the pair as a bargaining chip to open direct talks with Washington, and may be following the lead set by Tehran.

US-born reporter Roxana Saberi walked free from an Iranian jail on Monday after a court reduced her prison term for spying to a two-year suspended sentence, from the original eight years.

The case coincides with growing tensions between Pyongyang and Washington, after the North fired a long-range rocket on 5 April in what it called a satellite launch.

The United States and other nations say it staged a disguised missile test.

The United Nations condemned the launch and tightened existing sanctions, prompting the North to quit nuclear disarmament talks and announce it is restarting a programme to make weapons-grade plutonium.

It is threatening another nuclear test, following its first one in October 2006, unless the world body apologises.

"As Iran did, North Korea may try and release them through diplomatic contacts," said Cheong Seong-Chang of Seoul's Sejong Institute think-tank.

"North Korea may use such contacts for discussion on pending issues and demand Washington ease sanctions. It has been using the case as a bargaining chip."

Yang Moo-Jin, professor at Seoul's University of North Korean Studies, said the North is likely to impose severe punishment on the journalists.

"They are undergoing procedures similar to what happened to the US journalist held in Iran," he told AFP.

"Following the sentencing they might be pardoned, depending on the outcome of possible negotiations with Washington."

Pyongyang has publicly denied any interest in talking to the Obama administration, saying its policy is no better than that of its predecessor.

Washington has no diplomatic ties with Pyongyang and the Swedish embassy has been acting on its behalf. But the last time the Swedish ambassador was able to see the women was on 30 March.

The North is also holding a South Korean employee of the Kaesong joint industrial estate just north of the border.

The man has been detained since 30 March for allegedly criticising Pyongyang's political system and encouraging a woman worker to defect. Seoul officials have been given no access to him.

AFP

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