Seoul, Jan 27 (TIWN) North Korea will lead the UN Conference on Disarmament in a rotational one-month presidency later this year, the world body said.

North Korea will lead the United Nations' Conference on Disarmament in a rotational one-month presidency later this year, the world body has said.

North Korea is among six countries -- along with China, Colombia, Cuba, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Ecuador -- that will assume this year's chairmanship for four weeks each in alphabetical order.

This first session began Monday under China's presidency, with North Korea's turn set for May 30 to June 24.

The North's presidency is expected to stir controversy, especially as it has been ramping up tensions on the Korean Peninsula with a series of weapons tests since the start of the year.

On Thursday, the North fired two apparent short-range ballistic missiles toward the East Sea, marking its sixth such launch this month.