North Korea test fired an intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM) into the East Sea (Sea of Japan) around noon on Monday, according to the South Korean military, the DPRK’s first since early November.

The launch coincided with a visit to Seoul by U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken for a series of high-level meetings. It is also the first North Korean missile launch since the election of Donald Trump in November and the political crisis in South Korea over President Yoon Suk-yeol’s declaration of martial law.

JCS said the launch occurred around 12 p.m. KST on Monday, while Japan said