(VOVworld) – Japan’s two-year stint as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council officially began Friday, along with Egypt, Senegal, Uruguay, and Ukraine.

A UN Security Council’s meeting session. (Photo: Reuters)

Japan’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Motohide Yoshikawa, said will take up the nuclear program of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea and human rights violations as the Security Council’s most important issues.

During the 2 year tenure, Japan has to work on various conflicts in the world. It also aims to exert its leadership in efforts to stabilize East Asia. Tokyo plans to push for reforms to the council, especially related to expansion of UN’s permanent members.