for a week-long trip to Asia and Australia.The president arrives in Beijing on Monday.During his visit, Mr. Obama plansto meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping.He also will attend the yearly meetings of APEC-- the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum.On Wednesday, Mr. Obama goes to Myanmarfor the East Asia Summit and a meetingof the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.The trip ends at the "Group of 20" talksin Brisbane, Australia.North Korea is not a member of either APEC or ASEAN,but its nuclear activities are sureto be discussed at these meetings.Kim Han-kwon is with the Asan Institutefor Policy Studies in Seoul.He says the issue of North Koreais not just a subject for the Korean peninsula and East Asia,but one that can bring a big changein the security system of Asia and the Pacific.So, he says, related countries will hold discussions-- either officially or unofficially -- at the meetings.This week, South Korean media reportedthat North Korea has opened a new uranium enrichment centerat its main nuclear area.Some observers believe North Korea has made progressin its effort to build an atomic bomb.But the North is still believed to be working on a wayto make a nuclear weapon smaller.In recent years,observers thought the North Korean nuclear issuewould be one in which the United States and Chinacould cooperate to reduce tensions.China reportedly became angry with North Koreaafter the North carried out a nuclear test in 2013.The test was a violation of United Nations resolutions.But China has shown little interestin supporting strong sanctions against North Korea.Chinese officials fear such measurescould threaten security in the country.President Obama is to meetwith South Korean President Park Geun-hyein Myanmar, also known as Burma.They will likely discuss recent signals coming from Pyongyang.The North Korean government has at times shown an interestin restarting international talks on its nuclear program.But the North continues to send hostile signalstoward both South Korea and the United States.The leaders of China, Russia and Indiaare also expected in Myanmar's capital for the ASEAN meetings.But observers have limited expectations for the talks.The ASEAN way of compromise and non-interventionhas helped keep Southeast Asia at peace for years.And that is the only effective way for the group to operate.So says Rodolfo Severino of the Instituteof Southeast Asian Studies in Singapore.He spoke to VOA on Skype."No, ASEAN is not about breakthroughs.ASEAN is, works on an incremental basis."The talks are to lead the launchof the ASEAN Economic Community next year.The AEC is supposed to help increase cross-border trade and travel.But a document released to VOA before the meetingdeals with another issue: the South China Sea.A government representative from an ASEAN country provided the information.The document is a proposal for a statementthat would normally be released at the end of the conference.It notes progress on a Code of Conduct-- some would call them "rules" -- for the South China Sea.And it urges ASEAN members to settle their territorial disputes with China.The document also criticizes North Korea for testing missilesand condemns Islamic State militants in the Middle East.