The Korean Central News Agency said the two Americans were detained on March 17 "while illegally intruding into the territory of (North Korea) by crossing the (North Korea)-China border".
KCNA said police were investigating the case. The brief dispatch gave no further details.
US State Department officials said Washington was in contact with North Korea about the two detained journalists.
US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton "is engaged on this matter right now", spokesman Robert Wood told reporters.
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