5G UE-associated signalling

Hello Experts,

In TS 38.401 we have:

UE-associated signalling is an exchange of NGAP/XnAP/F1AP messages associated with one UE over the UEassociated logical NG/Xn/F1-connection.
NOTE: The UE-associated logical NG-connection may exist before the NG-RAN node UE context is setup in the
NG-RAN node.
The UE-associated logical F1-connection may exist before the UE context is setup in the gNB-DU.

Does anyone knows how is this possible?
The UE-associated logical F1-connection may exist before the UE context is setup in the gNB-DU.