WASHINGTON (Yonhap) -- Myanmar should come clean on its alleged nuclear cooperation with North Korea if it hopes to maintain momentum in improving relations with the United States, Washington-based proliferation experts said Monday.
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton made a historic visit to Myanmar, also known as Burma, late last month amid what the U.S. views as burgeoning signs of progress in efforts to democratize the nation, long ruled by an authoritarian regime.
During a meeting with Clinton, Myanmar President Thein Sein said that it would remain committed to the U.N. Security Council resolution against North Korea and suggested that it will enhance transparency on its energy program.
David Albright, founder and president of the Institute for Science and International Security (ISIS), however, emphasized that Myanmar should take action to back up its words.
"It should allow the U.N. Panel of Experts on North Korea to visit the country and answer questions about past suspicious transfers and cooperation with North Korea," he said in report co-authored with Andrea Stricker, a analyst at the ISIS.
In order to fully close the issue over Myanmar's nuclear aspirations, they stressed, the international community must implement a policy of "trust but verify."