US and South Korea launch missiles in response to North Korea's latest weapons tests

{O/C} The apparent military tit-for-tat against the North's frequent weapons tests lately saw the United States and South Korea both launch eight ballistic missiles altogether into the sea.

{RVO}

Fighting fire with fire, America fired one missile and South Korea, seven, into South Korea's eastern waters in 10 minutes.

The tit-for-tat launches were aimed at instantiating Western allies' ability to respond swiftly and accurately to North Korean provocations, according to the South's military.

All this followed eight North Korean missile tests yesterday over approximately half an hour -- the 18th round of missile tests in this year alone.

Analysts pointed out that these make for part of the North's brinkmanship as leader Kim Jong-un strives to wrest concessions from a position of strength.