Myanmar to sign new nuclear safeguards: Govt

YANGON (AFP) - Myanmar said on Sunday it would agree to new atomic safeguards that allow inspections of suspected clandestine nuclear sites, ahead of a milestone visit by US President Barack Obama.

The news comes hours after the White House said Myanmar has taken "positive steps" to reduce its military relationship with North Korea.

Myanmar, also known as Burma, was suspected of pursuing military and nuclear cooperation with Pyongyang during long years of junta rule which ended last year.

A Myanmar government statement said that the country would sign the International Atomic Energy Agency's "additional protocol", which grants the UN nuclear agency right of access to possible undeclared activities.