Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said Thursday the government is considering expanding the role of the Ground Self-Defense Force in a U.N. mission in South Sudan in line with Japan's new security legislation that will take effect in March.

"Since the legislation has been passed, we are thinking of assigning (the GSDF personnel to new) duties. It requires a great deal of preparation and training," Abe said during a House of Representatives Budget Committee session, referring to new tasks such as coming to the aid of other countries' troops or U.N. staff under attack.

With the passing of the security laws last year, Self-Defense Forces personnel will be granted the right to use weapons in line with the expansion of their missions. The legislation will ease some restrictions on SDF activities overseas imposed under Japan's pacifist Constitution.