North Korea launched a minimum of seven short-range ballistic missiles on Tuesday from its east coast, as reported by Japan’s defense minister. This action occurred shortly after Pyongyang criticized military exercises conducted by its adversaries and just hours prior to the U.S. election.

Kim Jong Un‘s sister denounced the joint drills involving the United States, Japan, and South Korea in a statement released by the state media outlet KCNA.

According to Japan’s Defence Minister Gen Nakatani, the missiles reached an altitude of 100 km (62 miles) and traveled a distance of 400 km before landing outside Japan’s exclusive economic zone in the ocean.

The missiles were launched around 7:30 a.m. on Tuesday (2230 GMT on Monday) from the area near Sariwon in North Hwanghae Province, as reported by South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff.

In response to the missile launches, the United States is maintaining close consultations with South Korea, Japan, and other regional partners while actively monitoring the situation, according to the U.S. military.

This latest missile launch follows North Korea‘s recent test of a significant new solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missile known as Hwasong-19, occurring just hours before the commencement of voting in the U.S. presidential election.

Yang Moo-jin, president of the University of North Korean Studies in Seoul, stated, “If the ICBM was intended for the United States, the latest ballistic missiles are directed at South Korea.”

He elaborated, “This is a direct response to the joint air exercises conducted by South Korea, the U.S., and Japan. Indirectly, it serves to showcase their military capabilities just before the U.S. presidential election.” Yang also interpreted this as an attempt to divert global attention from the criticism surrounding North Korea’s troop deployment to Russia.

On Tuesday, North Korean state media KCNA reported that Kim Yo Jong, the influential sister of leader Kim Jong Un, denounced the recent military drills by the U.S., Japan, and South Korea, labeling them as threats that validate North Korea’s nuclear enhancements.

The missile launch followed an unexpected meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korea’s foreign minister, Choe Son Hui, on Monday. During this surprise encounter at the Kremlin, the two leaders shook hands for an extended period, raising concerns in the West about the potential involvement of North Korean troops in the Ukraine conflict alongside Russia.

Additionally, on Monday, the U.S. criticized Russia and China at the U.N. Security Council for “shamelessly protecting” North Korea, which has been increasingly violating U.N. sanctions by advancing its ballistic missile, nuclear, and weapons of mass destruction programs.

South Korean Defence Minister Kim Yong-hyun remarked late last month that North Korea is likely to amplify its military presence around the U.S. presidential election period, potentially through intercontinental missile tests or nuclear tests.