Japan continues to join UN peacekeeping mission in South Sudan

Japan will continue to join the UN peacekeeping mission in South Sudan, a government spokesman said Wednesday. "We will continue to contribute to the nation-building of South Sudan along with the international society," Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga told a press conference. Japan has dispatched a team of its Ground Self-Defense Force ( GSDF) members to South Sudan since November 2011 and was helping build infrastructure in the capital city of Juba. The UN Security Council on Tuesday approved a recommendation to almost double the UN peacekeeping forces in the conflict-torn South Sudan to better protect civilians from violence. The resolution reinforces the strength of UN mission to 12,500 troops and 1,323 police from its previous mandate of over 6,800 troops and police as thousands of civilians in the world's youngest country were seeking refuge at UN bases. Suga welcomed the decision, but downplayed the possibility that Japan may send more GSDF personnel to South Sudan.