South Korea and the United States jointly condemned the recent provocative actions of North Korea, particularly its announcement of launching new spy satellites, according to the Ministry of Defense of South Korea. Deputy Minister of Defense for Policy Cho Chang Re and Ely Ratner, Assistant Secretary of Defense for Indo-Pacific Security Affairs in the United States, criticized North Korea’s recent provocative actions. These discussions marked the first talks since the new Deputy Minister of Defense of South Korea assumed office. “Both sides strongly condemned North Korea’s recent provocative a…