The United States has stressed that it intends to deal with North Korea’s planned rocket launch and its detainment of two U.S. journalists as separate matters.

State Department deputy spokesman Gordon Duguid told reporters Tuesday that the two female journalists have no connection with North Korea or its rocket launch plans and stressed that Washington is continuing its diplomatic efforts for the safe release of the journalists.

Duguid stressed that the main concern of the U.S. government is always the safety of its citizens.

On reports that journalists Laura Ling and Euna Kim will be put on trial, Duguid said the department has seen the press reports but has not had any confirmation on the matter through its diplomatic contacts.

Duguid said Washington will continue to ask the Swedish Embassy in Pyongyang, which represents U.S. interests in North Korea, to continuously seek consular access to the two U.S. citizens.

Ling and Kim, reporters for the online media outlet Current TV, were detained on March 17th near the Chinese-North Korean border while reporting on North Korean women who fled to China.