Japan will overcome last weekend's slaying of two Foreign Ministry diplomats in northern Iraq and send Self-Defense Forces troops to the country when the time is appropriate, Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi vowed Tuesday.
In a speech in Tokyo, Koizumi said Japan suffered a tremendous loss when "distinguished diplomats" Katsuhiko Oku and Masamori Inoue were assassinated.
"It is truly regrettable, but our government must overcome the deaths of Mr. Oku and Mr. Inoue and cooperate with the international community to build a democratic government in Iraq," he said.