The Democratic People's Republic of Korea's (DPRK) security officials have detained two Korean-American journalists who were filming across the Tumen River from the Chinese side of the border, the Republic of Korea's (ROK) media and diplomatic sources said yesterday.

The arrests come at a time of mounting tension on the Korean Peninsula, with the DPRK accusing the US and the ROK of using joint military exercises which end today as preparations to invade the country.

A diplomatic source said the reporters were on the frozen Tumen river when taken by DPRK security guards. The Tumen runs along the eastern section of the border with China.