(LinkAsia: November 23, 2012)
Yul Kwon:
President Obama has just concluded a whirlwind visit to Southeast Asia. His trip included stops in Thailand, Myanmar and Cambodia. It was billed as a campaign to win over so-called "swing states" - countries that both the US and China are trying to bring into their respective spheres of influence. Perhaps the most important part of the trip was the six hours that Obama spent in Myanmar. Until recently, the country was seen as a client of China, mostly because China was one of the few nations that did business with the former Burmese military regime. But now, after a year of reform, western countries are crowding in with investments and aid. Here's how Japanese public broadcaster NHK covered Obama's visit.

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NHK World NEWSLINE
Airdate: November 19, 2012

Reporter:
Obama met with President Thein Sein. He referred to the nation for the first time in public as Myanmar, the name made official by the military. The US government usually calls it Burma.

Barack Obama:
I shared with President Thein Sein, our belief, the process of reform he has taken is one that will move this country forward.

Reporter:
Local people lined the streets waving US flags to welcome the American president. Obama then met with long-time democracy activist, Aung San Suu Kyi, at her home.

Barack Obama:
I'm proud to be the first American president to visit this spectacular country. We've seen some very encouraging progress.

Aung San Suu Kyi:
We are working to a genuine success for our people and for the friendship of our two countries.

Reporter:
Some human rights activists called the visit premature. But Obama said they should take the opportunity to encourage what he called "the better impulses in the country."  

(LinkAsia: October 19, 2012)
Yul Kwon:
In Myanmar, the former military regime has ushered in tremendous reforms over the past year. Less media censorship, along with the release of more than 700 political prisoners, have led the US to ease economic sanctions against the country. It seems the pro-democracy movement, led by Aung San Suu Kyi, is succeeding. But some are still skeptical. Here's NHK with more.

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NHK World NEWSLINE
Airdate: October 16, 2012

Reporter:
This is where Aung San Suu Kyi used to live while under house arrest. Back then, walking along this street was prohibited, but now it's become a bit of a tourist attraction.

Tourist:
A Nobel Prize winner lives here, which is interesting. You can also see that people are extremely positive about changes, and that is a really good thing.

Reporter:
Images of Aung San Suu Kyi used to be banned, but her face is everywhere at this souvenir shop at the headquarters of her National League for Democracy Party. From coffee cups to umbrellas, these items earn the party about 500 US Dollars a day, that's about half the amount most ordinary people in Myanmar make in a year. Visitors from overseas seem happy that Myanmar is opening up. But what about Democracy activists inside the country? I visited Min Ko Naing, he was a key member of the '88 Generation, the group that led the anti-military movement of 1988. He spent more than 15 years prison.

Min Ko Naing:
Whether or not people say these changes are real. We must be active and force them to become real. Actions are more important than words. Aung San Suu Kyi chose to enter parliament and is moving forward, and that encourages me too to do what I can in my own way, because I want everyone in Myanmar to join this movement for Democracy. That's my motivation.