Over a month has passed since North Korean state media said the DPRK would try detained American citizens Jeffrey Edward Fowle and Matthew Miller.

That marks double the time it took for North Korea to try U.S. national Kenneth Bae following the announcement of his trial in April 2013.

North Korea’s criminal code normally requires the prosecution to file a formal indictment within 10 days of the completion of an investigation, with the court then ruling on the case within 25 days.

But the Korea Central News Agency (KCNA) said that an initial investigation into Fowle and Miller’s crimes had been completed over a month ago, on June 30.

While the investigation confirmed suspicions about their “hostile acts,” the delay in subsequent trial could be related to political factors, one North Korea specialist told NK News.

“The Bae case was as political as any other, but it suited them to push the legal-rational judicial system angle at the time,” Chris Green, international editor at the Daily NK told NK News.

With the additional time taken for the pending trial with Fowle and Green, “there was probably some wait and see” Green said. “There is always the “complex investigation” pretext if needed later,” he added.

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Certainly, North Korean authorities have made the most of the additional time, allowing AP to spotlight the pair’s potential fate through an interview which last week revealed their hopes Washington might intervene.

“I don’t know what the worst-case scenario would be, but I need help to extricate myself from this situation. I ask the government for help in that regards,” Fowle told an AP TV crew at an undisclosed location in Pyongyang.

“I expect soon I will be going to trial for my crime and be sent to prison,” Matthew Miller said. “I have been requesting help from the American government, but have received no reply.”

The pair of detainees, who KCNA said in late June confirmed “hostile acts” during visits to North Korea, are likely to receive lengthy sentences upon any trial in the coming weeks or months.

Based on previous cases involving Americans, this could involve jail time of around 15 years.

24 year old Todd, who was on a private tour with American company Uri Tours at the time of his arrest, ripped up a visa and tried to claim asylum upon his arrival in Pyongyang.

Fowle, a 56 year old, was detained for leaving a bible at a bar in Chongjin, a detailed Reuters report revealed on Friday.

Main picture: NK News