The Obama administration on Monday called on the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) to release two US women journalists "on humanitarian grounds".

"We call on the North Korean authorities to release the two young ladies, allow them to be reunited with their families, and we're very, very focused on that right now," State Department spokesman Ian Kelly told reporters.

File photo shows the two US women reporters held by the DPRK. [Xinhua]

"The whole judicial process has played out now, and we think it's time for them to be released just on pure humanitarian grounds," said the spokesman.

The DPRK's highest court has sentenced the two journalists, who were captured for allegedly crossing the border from China and committing "hostile actions" against the country, to 12 years of what it calls "reform through labor".

Kelly said the administration is trying to get the two journalists released by diplomatic channel. "What we're focused on is getting an outcome and we're exploring all kinds of channels to try and get the two young ladies released," he said.

The spokesman told reporters that Swedish Ambassador to the DPRK Mats Foyer has been "in very close contact, not only with us but also with the families."

Sweden, which has diplomatic relations with the DPRK, provides services to US citizens in the country.

(Xinhua News Agency June 9, 2009)