Noda expresses resolve for rebuilding Japan at UN

Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda has expressed his resolve to rebuild and revive Japan from the devastating earthquake and tsunami at the UN General Assembly.

Noda addressed the annual UN meeting in New York on Friday.

The prime minister said this year has been far from ordinary for Japan. He stated that nearly 20,000 people were left dead or missing by the March disaster, and almost 40,000 people are still forced to live away from their homes.

Noda expressed gratitude for support extended by the international community, saying the Japanese will never forget the ties they felt with people from around the world.

On the troubled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, Noda said steady progress is being made to contain the accident.

He said the affected areas face many challenges, but that he will put priority on recovery and reconstruction work to revive Japan as soon as possible.

Noda spoke about Japan's readiness to provide maximum support for the UN peacekeeping mission in South Sudan, which gained independence in July.

He said Japan wants to contribute to UN activities in areas in which it excels, and is preparing to send personnel to the UN operation headquarters in South Sudan.

He said Japan will send a survey team to that country soon to decide on whether to send a Self-Defense Force engineering unit there.

Noda also announced a plan to provide one billion dollars in yen loans to support reform and democratization efforts in the Middle East and North Africa