North Korea launched two ballistic missiles from its eastern coast, marking its first such test in two months. The launch coincided with South Korean President Lee Jae-myung’s visit to China, according to TRT World. The previous missile test by Pyongyang took place in November, shortly after U.S. President Donald Trump approved South Korea’s plan to build nuclear-powered submarines.

The missile launches come just before a historic conference of North Korea’s ruling party, the first in five years, where economic and defense strategies are expected to be discussed. In preparation for the meeting, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has ordered the construction of additional factories to expand and modernize missile production.

State media reported that Kim recently inspected a weapons production facility and directed a 250 percent increase in production capacity. The timing of the launches and Kim’s directives underscore Pyongyang’s continued emphasis on strengthening its defense capabilities ahead of major political events.