NEW YORK -- North Korea's ambassador to the United Nations, Ja Song Nam, is expected to attend a ministerial-level meeting of the Security Council on Friday, according to Japan's Permanent Mission to the world body.

It is highly unusual for the North Korean regime to send a representative to the council's sessions. The North's nuclear and missile development programs are on the agenda for Friday's meeting, which is to be chaired by Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Kono.