2 S Korean reporters arrested over N Korea 'trespass'

Two South Korean media staff have been arrested for trespassing at the home of the North Korean ambassador to Singapore, police said today, just days before a high-stakes summit between the US and North Korean leaders in the city-state.

Police said the men arrested on Thursday were from the Korean Broadcasting System News (KBS News), while a third man from the broadcaster and a fourth who was acting as a guide and interpreter were also under investigation.

"Two South Korean men, aged 42 and 45, who were representing the Korean Broadcasting System News, were arrested," police said in a Facebook post.

KBS declined to comment. KBS is the national public broadcaster of South Korea and operates radio, television and online services.

When asked about the arrests, a spokesman for South Korea's presidential Blue House said it would use "utmost diplomatic effort to prevent such troubles" and urged journalists to be "cautious and prudent".

International media are flocking to Singapore, which is playing host to the first ever meeting between a sitting US president, Donald Trump, and a North Korean leader, Kim Jong Un.

The June 12 talks are expected to centre on ending the North's nuclear weapons programmes in return for diplomatic and economic incentives.

More than 3,000 foreign journalists are expected to fly in to cover the summit.

Under Singapore law, criminal trespass may be punished with imprisonment of up to three months, or a fine of up to S$1,500.