WASHINGTON, April 24 (Xinhua) -- The United States on Friday reiterated its call for the release of two American journalists being held by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) for illegal entry into the country.

    "We continue to call on the North Koreans to release the two Americans so they can be returned to their families," State Department deputy spokesman Robert Wood told reporters. "We're working it quietly through diplomatic channels to do as much as we can."

    The United States, which has no diplomatic relations with the DPRK, has been trying to get information about the American detainees from the Swedish embassy in Pyongyang.

Journalists Euna Lee (L) and Laura Ling are seen in undated handouts in this combination photo. The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) will put two detained American journalists on trial, the official news agency KCNA said on Friday.

    The call by the State Department was made on the occasion when the DPRK announced earlier in the day that the two detained American journalists will be put on trial.

    The DPRK detained two American journalists on March 17, accusing them of "illegally intruding into the territory of the DPRK by crossing the DPRK-China border."