UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon arrived in Japan Sunday for a three-day visit to meet Prime Minister Naoto Kan and visit areas near a crippled Japanese nuclear power plant, DPA reported.
On Monday, the UN chief will meet evacuees from the atomic accident at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station. The plant has leaked radioactive substances since it was hit by the March 11 earthquake and tsunami.
"We have seen such a tremendous tragedy, so I will try to convey again the solidarity of the United Nations, of the international community," Ban told reporters last week prior to his trip to Japan, the Kyodo News agency reported.
"At the same time though, I would like to encourage them and commend their courageous efforts to overcome this tragedy. I would like to ask them not to lose their hope and work for a better future," he said.
Ban will also hold talks with Prime Minister Naoto Kan and Foreign Minister Takeaki Matsumoto to address ways of beefing up the UN's ties with Japan, Kyodo said.
Ban is also expected to ask Japan to dispatch its military personnel to South Sudan.
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