Some observers and experts believe North Korea’s flurry of weapons tests this year, and responses from the U.S. and South Korea, represent the beginning of a dangerous tit-for-tat cycle that could lead to misperception, arms racing and even conflict. 

The day after North Korea launched eight ballistic missiles in a single test event last month, for example, the U.S.-ROK Combined Forces Command (CFC) responded with a live-fire Flexible Deterrent Option (FDO) exercise of eight missiles of its own.

Inter-Korean tensions, provocations, armed attacks and acts of war have occurred numerous times