As a result of recent bilateral measures and increasing tensions, there are few exit ramps ahead to de-escalate tension between Pyongyang and the U.S. - South Korea alliance, Dr. Victor Cha, Korea Chair of the CSIS think-tank, told NK News in Seoul on Tuesday.

And with data suggesting North Korea may conduct provocations around forthcoming joint military drills or the pending U.S. election, it's hard to be optimistic about how things might play out in the coming months, should an incident occur.