Oct 17 09:31 PM US/EasternTOKYO, Oct. 18 (AP) - (Kyodo) — Prime Minister Taro Aso attended an annual ceremony Saturday to mourn Self-Defense Force personnel killed while performing their official duties.
This year's ceremony, held at the Defense Ministry, was dedicated to seven personnel, including a Ground Self-Defense Force member who died in a traffic accident in June and another GSDF member murdered by a colleague in 2004.
The deaths of the seven were certified by Aug. 31 as related to official duties and the certification put the total number of SDF personnel, including members of the National Police Reserve, the SDF's predecessor, killed while performing their duties at 1,798.
The seven does not include a Maritime Self-Defense Force sailor who died last month after being forced to fight 15 other MSDF members while training.
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