Lt. Col. Katsunobu Ishibashiand of Japan’s Ground Self-Defense Force (SDF), who leads the 6-member military observer mission to Nepal under the UNMIN, talking with media persons upon arrival at the Tribhuvan International Airport, Kathmandu, on Saturday, Mar 31 07. Japanese ambassador to Nepal, Tsutomu Hiraoka (L), and UNMIN officials were present at the TIA to receive the arms monitors. nepalnews.com/NPA

Six Japanese arms monitors arrived in Kathmandu Saturday iafternoon.

The military team, which is unarmed, is part of the UNMIN, which is monitoring Nepal’s peace process, a press statement issued by the Japanese Embassy said.

The dispatch of arms monitors would also greatly contribute to further strengthening the bilateral relations between Japan and Nepal, the embassy said.

Earlier, the Japanese government had approved the dispatch of arms monitors to Nepal under the UNMIN.