Defense Agency Director General Fukushiro Nukaga left for Iraq on Friday of the Ground Self-Defense Force troops stationed in Samawah, Iraq.
Nukaga is expected to check that the region is secure before the government finalizes its decision to extend the Self-Defense Forces mission for another year.
However, the Defense Agency and Chief Cabinet Secretary Shinzo Abe declined comment Friday on Nukaga's trip, apparently out of fear of terrorist attacks.
His trip comes as the government is planning to extend the Self-Defense Forces reconstruction mission for another year. The current mission is set to end Dec. 14.
If approved, it would be the second extension, following the first one last December.
Former Defense Agency chief Yoshinori Ono also paid a visit Samawah shortly before the first extension to inspect security conditions. He was in Samawah for only 5 1/2 hours.
Nukaga was to fly to London first and then head for Iraq, possibly arriving at Samawah on Saturday, sources said.
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