Sen. Webb holds off Myanmar visit

WASHINGTON, June 3 (UPI) -- U.S. Sen. Jim Webb said Thursday he postponed a trip to Myanmar following reports the country may be working with North Korea to develop a nuclear capability.

The Virginia Democrat, who heads the Senate Foreign Relations Committee's Subcommittee on East Asia and Pacific Affairs, has just completed visits to Korea and Thailand and had planned to stop in Myanmar, formerly known as Burma.

Webb said in a statement released by his Washington office initial accounts reveal a defecting officer from the Myanmar military says he has direct knowledge of the nuclear plans, and reportedly has provided documents to back his claims.

"It is unclear whether these allegations have substantive merit," Webb said. "However, given the fact that Assistant Secretary of State Kurt Campbell recently accused Burma of violating U.N. Security Council Resolution 1874 with respect to a suspected shipment of arms from North Korea, there are now two unresolved matters related to activities of serious concern between these two countries. Until there is further clarification on these matters, I believe it would be unwise and potentially counterproductive for me to visit Burma."

Webb went on to say he believes those issues must be "further clarified" before the United States and Myanmar continue talks about "a more open governmental system and for the future strategic balance in Southeast Asia."

Webb said he intends to "strongly suggest" to President Barack Obama that he immediately appoint a special envoy "to address the entire range of issues regarding relations between the United States and Burma."