NEW YORK CITY (BNO NEWS) — The Swedish ambassador to North Korea had several meetings with Laura Ling and Euna Lee, the two American journalists being held in North Korea after being convicted of spying, a U.S. State Department spokesman told BNO News on Tuesday. Sweden represents the United States in North Korea because there are no diplomatic relations between the U.S. and North Korea.

The ambassador made a total of four visits and the last one took place on Tuesday. “We urge North Korea to immediately release the two journalists on humanitarian grounds,” he said.

The two journalists were reporting on the plight of North Korean defectors living along the border of China and North Korea when they were taken into custody on March 17. North Korea said the reporters had illegally entered the country and were accused of “hostile acts” and charged with spying. Early this month, the country’s top court convicted them and sentenced both to 12 years in a labor prison.

There were no details on what was discussed during the meetings. The ambassador met with the journalists in Pyongyang.