A spokesman for the Mission of Sweden to the United Nations told Xinhua on Monday that a Swedish diplomat has visited the two U.S. reporters arrested in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) earlier this month.

"One Swedish diplomat has visited (the two reporters) one time as part of the protective duties for the United States," the spokesman said, adding that was all he could say since he knew nothing more than that.

Sweden is the "protective power" representative for the United States in the absence of a U.S. mission in the DPRK, he added.

The two women reporters were arrested two weeks ago in the northern border area of the DPRK, which would put them on trial for "hostile acts," reports said.

"The illegal entry of U.S. reporters into the DPRK and their suspected hostile acts have been confirmed by evidence and their statements, according to the results of intermediary investigation conducted by a competent organ of the DPRK," the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said.

"The organ is carrying on its investigation and, at the same time, making a preparation for indicting them at a trial on the basis of the already confirmed suspects," KCNA said.

(Xinhua News Agency March 31, 2009)