Japan sends survey team to South Sudan

The Japanese government has sent a team to South Sudan to determine whether to join a UN peacekeeping mission in the country which became independent in July.

About 30 officials from the defense and foreign ministries, and the Ground Self-Defense Force left Japan on Saturday.

The group will inspect the security situation in the capital, Juba, and surrounding areas for about one week to determine if supply routes for materials needed to build roads and other infrastructure can be secured.

In a speech at the UN General Assembly earlier this week, Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda said that Japan is ready to provide engineering troops for South Sudan.

The Japanese government is apparently seeking to show the world that Japan has recovered from the March disaster to the extent that it can again contribute to international undertakings.