North Korea fired multiple short-range ballistic missiles toward the East Sea on Tuesday morning, just hours before the start of the U.S. presidential election.  

South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff(JCS) said it detected the launches around 7:30 a.m. from the Sariwon area in North Hwanghae Province.

The military is analyzing the situation to determine details, including the kind of missile used and the missile range. 

The JCS said the South Korean military has strengthened its monitoring and vigilance in preparation for additional launches and is sharing information with the United States and Japan, while maintaining a full readiness posture.

The launches came five days after the North test-fired a Hwasong-19 intercontinental ballistic missile and just six hours before the U.S. presidential election, which is set to begin at 2 p.m. Korea Standard Time. 

The provocation is thought to be the North’s response to Sunday’s joint aerial exercise by South Korea, the United States and Japan, which involved a U.S. B-1B strategic bomber.