The US government on Monday urged the North Korea government to release the three men, adding that Washington was active in working to secure their freedom.

Two of the men, Jeffrey Fowle and Matthew Miller are awaiting trial for "hostile acts," while the other, Kenneth Bae, was sentenced to 15 years hard labor after he was convicted of trying to overthrow the regime in Pyongyang.

"Out of humanitarian concern for Jeffrey Fowle, Matthew Miller, and their families, we request the DPRK release them so they may return home," State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said in a statement, using the formal acronym for North Korea.

"We also request the DPRK pardon Kenneth Bae and grant him special amnesty and immediate release so he may reunite with his family and seek medical care," she added.

Each of the three spoke to a visiting CNN reporting crew who were given access to them on Monday at a Pyongyang hotel.

The 46-year-old Bae said his health has deteriorated at a labor camp outside Pyongyang where he works eight hours a day. Arrested 18 months ago, Bae - who is of Korean descent - said he had spent all of his time "going back and forth" between a hospital and a labor camp

"The only hope that I have is to have someone from the U.S. come," he said. "But so far, the latest I've heard is that there has been no response yet. So I believe that officials here are waiting for that."

Awaiting court hearing

The 56-year-old Fowle, from Miamisburg, Ohio, said he was "desperate" to see his family again. Fowle is suspected of Christian proselytizing - viewed as a seditious act - after he left a Bible where it might be discovered by North Koreans. "Within a month I could be sharing a jail cell with Ken Bae," said Fowle.

Miller, 24, was arrested in April, with state media claiming he had ripped up his tourist visa on entry to North Korea where he was purportedly seeking asylum.

"My situation is very urgent," said Miller, who comes from Bakersfield, California. "Very soon I am going to trial, and I (will) directly be sent to prison," he added.

While the US State Department strongly advises its citizens against traveling to North Korea, a small number visit the country each year. The White House has said the release of the prisoners should come with no strings attached and that other issues - such as North Korea's disputed nuclear program - must remain separate.

rc/jm (AFP, AP, Reuters)