SEOUL - NORTH Korea confirmed on Saturday that it has detained two American journalists and accused them of illegally entering its territory from China.

Authorities are investigating the two women, who were seized on Tuesday, the official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said.

The journalists' cameraman and guide reportedly escaped but were later detained by Chinese border guards.

KCNA said the two Americans were detained 'while illegally intruding into the territory' of North Korea.

South Korean media and a South Korean missionary identified the two Americans as Laura Ling and Euna Lee, reporters for former Vice President Al Gore's San Francisco-based media outlet Current TV.

State Department officials said Washington is in contact with North Korea about the detentions and that Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton was working on the case.

The US has informed the North that it is willing to hold a high-level meeting to push for a quick release of the reporters, South Korea's Munhwa Ilbo newspaper reported on Saturday. -- AP