The families of two American journalists detained in North Korea are pleading for the release of the two women.

Laura Ling and Euna Lee, reporters for San Francisco-based Current TV, were detained by North Korea on March 17th while filming a documentary along the North's border with China.

In an interview with ABC, Ling's elder sister expressed deep concerns about the safety of the detainees, saying that the families have received no information since the women were sentenced to 12 years in prison by the North's highest court last week.

The families issued a statement asking North Korean authorities to show generosity by releasing the two women.

The North’s state-run Korean Central News Agency said earlier this week that the women have admitted to entering the country illegally and had "extremely rude political motives" to stifle and insult Pyongyang's images.