The Asian American Journalists Association has urged for the immediate release of two U.S. journalists detained by North Korea.

The association on Monday expressed deep concern over the safety of Laura Ling and Euna Lee, adding that related countries must act immediately to negotiate their swift release.

Ling and Lee, both reporters for the San Francisco-based online media outlet Current TV, were detained Tuesday along the Yalu River while shooting footage of the North.

Meanwhile, an organization that promotes the national interests of Asian immigrants in the U.S. sent a letter to President Barack Obama urging efforts for the release of the two reporters.