During US President Barack Obama's recent trip to Myanmar, the Asian nation announced that it would sign an international agreement that would require it to declare all nuclear facilities and materials.

This could shed light on whether that nation's powerful military pursued a clandestine nuclear weapons programme, possibly with North Korea's help.

President Thein Sein's agreement to allow more scrutiny by UN nuclear inspectors suggests a willingness to go beyond democratic reforms that have improved relations with Washington of late.