KATHMANDU, March 31 (Xinhua) -- A six-member Japanese military team arrived in Kathmandu Saturday to participate in a one-year UN military observer mission to assistant in the peace process of Nepal.

    According to the National News Agency, RSS report, the unarmed team in non-military dress led by Lieutenant Colonel Katsunori Ishibasi will help monitor the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) camps in various places of the country as well as the weapons of Nepal Army.

    Their mission will continue until March 31, 2008, the report said.

    Earlier, Kyodo News said, this is the first overseas Ground Self-Defense Forces (SDF) mission since the upgrade of the Defense Agency to a ministry, as well as since the law to redefine international cooperation activities overseas as a main, rather than subordinate, duty for the SDF, took effect.