Myanmar nationals in South Korea to receive assistance
Burma nationals and the National Unity Government (NUG) representative office in South Korea told DVB that the Ministry of Justice in Seoul announced on Thursday that it would continue to support migrant workers and students from Burma unable to extend their stay at the embassy.
“It will allow those who have difficulty renewing their visas to stay legally until the political situation improves,” Kyaw San, a pro-democracy activist in South Korea told DVB. The NUG Administrative Officer in South Korea Win Paw Maung called on all in South Korea to support the resistance to the 2021 military coup.
The South Korean government stated that nearly 6,000 from Burma have humanitarian visas, which allows them to remain in South Korea without being deported. The Burma Embassy in Seoul warned nationals against renewing their passports using NUG issued stamps. The NUG claimed that it has processed nearly 1,000 passport renewals since July.
Human Rights Watch releases World Report 2025
The military has intensified its “scorched earth” tactics against civilians in Burma through the use of indiscriminate airstrikes, forced recruitment, and unlawful detentions, in response to the armed uprising and territorial losses to anti-regime forces since the 2021 coup, states Human Rights Watch (HRW) in its World Report 2025 released on Friday.
“It’s very important that at this moment when some of these [resistance] groups are also looking for international legitimacy, that donors and the international community are also ensuring that there is pressure to ensure that human rights standards are being met,” Elaine Pearson, the HRW Asia director, told DVB at a press conference in Bangkok on Jan. 17.
The U.N. has called Burma “an abyss of human suffering” as it has verified the death of over 5,600 civilians, including 1,160 women and 624 children, killed by the military since 2021. It has documented over 3.5 million people who are currently displaced from their homes and are listed as Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs). The number of those impacted by recent flooding across Burma is nearly 900,000.

Moon Nay Li on a feminist approach to federalism
The Women’ s League of Burma (WLB) celebrated its 25th anniversary in Chiang Mai, Thailand on Dec. 9 under the theme of “25 Years of Feminist Federalism.” Moon Nay Li, the WLB general secretary, joined us in the DVB Newsroom to discuss what this means for women in Burma and how its shaping its feminist approach to federalism.
“This is very important for general peace and transforming the dynamic of democracy in our country because most of our activity, including directly the [political] issues, is [being led] by the men and also most of the male leaders do not really understand about the [on-the-]ground situation and what’s happening to the children, the women, and all the people,” she told DVB.
To learn more about Moon Nay Li’s 18 years of work on human rights and women’s participation, as well as the WLB’s work over the last 25 years, watch DVB Newsroom season 2 episode 6 on DVB English News YouTube or Spotify. It’s also available to listen to on Apple Podcasts, YouTube Music, Audible, Amazon Music, or wherever you get podcasts.
News by Region
NAYPYIDAW—Regime media reported that Sanjay Mathur, the U.N. Office for Project Services (UNOPS) Asia regional director, and Sara Austin Netzer, the UNOPS country director in Burma, met with regime officials in Naypyidaw on Thursday.
Mathur held a separate meeting with Deputy Prime Minister Than Swe, and Investment Minister Kan Zaw to discuss “enhancing cooperation” between the regime and UNOPS. Several high-ranking U.N. officials have met with Min Aung Hlaing, and have presented their credentials to the regime, in Naypyidaw since the 2021 coup.
SHAN—Three civilians, including a seven-year-old, were killed and 14 others were injured by artillery which struck a camp for IDPs near Phyar Taung village of Naungshwe Township on Friday. Residents told DVB that both the military and Pa-O National Organization (PNO) were involved in the attack. Nyaung Shwe is located 12 miles (20 km) south of the Shan State capital Taunggyi.
“There is no current fighting in the area. I just wonder why the PNO would kill its own ethnic people,” a Naungshwe resident told DVB. The camp for IDPs is situated near Pinlaung Township, located 24 miles (40 km) southeast of Taunggyi, where fighting between Karenni resistance forces and pro-regime forces, including the PNO, has been ongoing.
The Danu People’s Liberation Army/Front (DPLA/F) told DVB that an airstrike carried out by the Burma Air Force killed three and injured 13 in Lawksawk (Yatsauk) Township, located 52 miles (84 km) north of Taunggyi, on Thursday. The DPLA/F was established in August 2022.
“This is just what the military does. The airstrike and artillery fire is going to continue,” a DPLA/F member told DVB. Along with the Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA), the DPLA/F has seized control of Nawnghkio and Mongmit in northern Shan State, and Mogok in Mandalay Region.
SAGAING—Airstrikes killed two, including an infant, and injured seven others in Khampat town and at a monastery in Kanan village of Tamu Township, located 275 miles (442 km) north of the regional capital Sagaing, on Thursday. The People’s Defense Force (PDF) seized control of Khampat on Nov. 5, 2023.
“A [resistance] member was among the victims,” a Khampat resident told DVB on the condition of anonymity. The two airstrikes damaged 15 buildings, including the monastery and pagodas. Pro-military social media channels said the military attacked a PDF office in Khampat.
(Exchange rate: $1 USD = 4,620 MMK)

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