U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has begun a landmark trip to Burma, becoming the first chief U.S. diplomat to visit the country in 50 years.

She arrived Wednesday in the remote Burmese capital, Naypyitaw, for three days of talks, including scheduled meetings with Burmese President Thein Sein and pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi.

Clinton traveled to Burma from South Korea, where she told reporters she will determine for herself the current Burmese government's intentions for continuing political and economic reforms.

She discussed what U.S. President Barack Obama said earlier this month were “flickers of progress” from the nominally civilian Burmese government, which took office earlier this year after more than four decades of military rule.

Mr. Obama had said Clinton will explore what the United States can do to support progress on political reform, human rights and national reconciliation in Burma.

The United States and other western nations imposed sanctions on Burma's military government in response to its widespread human rights abuses and failure to enact democratic reforms.

Mr. Obama has said that if Burma continues to progress democratically, it can forge a new relationship with Washington. But he warned of continued sanctions if the government fails in that effort.