UN chief asks Japan to send troops to South Sudan

UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon has asked Japan to send civil engineering troops to South Sudan. During his meeting with Japanese Defense Minister Toshimi Kitazawa in Tokyo on Tuesday, Ban thanked Japan for its participation in the UN peacekeeping mission in Haiti. The country was struck by a devastating earthquake last year, according to Japanese (NHK WORLD). Ban then requested that Japan send personnel to help build roads and other infrastructure in South Sudan, which became independent last month. Kitazawa responded that Japan''s Self Defense Forces must first deal with the March 11 disaster and complete their mission in Haiti. But Kitazawa said Japan hopes to hold talks with the UN about deploying Self Defense Force officers to South Sudan to command peacekeeping operations. Ban told reporters he hopes that Japan will positively consider sending troops to South Sudan