China denies U.S. reporters were seized in China

[Coventina]

Source: Washington Post

BEIJING (Reuters) - China rejected on Thursday claims by two U.S. journalists that they were seized on Chinese territory before being dragged into North Korea and jailed there for illegal entry into the reclusive state.

The journalists Laura Ling and Euna Lee said in an article in the Los Angeles Times (http:/link.reuters.com/cug44d) that they strayed into North Korean territory in March when visiting a frozen river that marked the border with China.

They said they rushed back to the Chinese side but North Korean guards chased them and dragged them into North Korea.

But the Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu rejected their account.

"According to the understanding of the relevant (Chinese) departments, they did not find the situation as you described it," she told reporters in answer to a question about the two U.S. journalists' account.

Jiang deflected repeated questions about how the two were seized, telling them that her meaning was plain enough.

She did not give details of how China reached its conclusions, except to say that the investigation was carried out by local authorities on the border.





Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/09/03/AR2009090300323.html