Japan's newly elected Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda visited the devastated Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power Thursday plant to see the extent of the damage and decontamination efforts, the NHK World report said.

Noda met wiith military personnel at the nearby sports facility, where the government's disaster team set up headquarters. Noda said that as the chief of the Self-Defense Forces, he is proud of their efforts to respond to the March 11 earthquake and tsunami.

After a briefing, Noda wore protective clothing and stepped on the power plant to inspect on destroyed buildings. He was given an overview on the debilitated nuclear reactors and the pending tasks to take control of the crises, the AP reported.

Fukushima Prefecture Governor Yuhei Sato and other local leaders will also meet with the prime minister.

Later Thursday Noda is to visit nearby nuclear power plants where high levels of radiation persevere, and an elementary school that is being decontaminated.

Noda told NHK World his government's priority is to accelerate the reconstruction.