Izumi Nakamitsu, the United Nations' new head of disarmament, gave her first briefing to the 15-member Security Council on Tuesday, focusing on the latest developments on chemical weapons in Syria.

As the high representative for disarmament affairs, the Japanese is in charge of a wide-ranging portfolio that includes nuclear disarmament and nonproliferation, weapons of mass destruction, and chemical and biological weapons.

Nakamitsu, who officially took over from predecessor Kim Won-soo of South Korea on May 1, will present monthly briefings to the council on efforts to eliminate Syria's chemical weapons program and updates on the activities of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons and the U.N. Joint Investigative Mechanism.