A senior North Korean diplomat fired back at Secretary of State Mike Pompeo Michael (Mike) Richard PompeoWatchdog confirms State Dept. canceled award for journalist who criticized Trump Trump's push for win with Sudan amps up pressure on Congress Putin nominated for Nobel Peace Prize MORE on Saturday after the U.S. official called the nation's behavior “rogue,” warning that hopes for talks between Washington and Pyongyang are fading.

North Korean First Vice Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui denounced Pompeo’s “thoughtless” comments and cautioned that the U.S. shouldn’t put North Korea’s "patience to the test" if officials want to see a mutually satisfactory agreement between the two nations, The Associated Press reports.

“Our expectations of dialogue with the U.S. are gradually disappearing and we are being pushed to re-examine all the measures we have taken so far,” Choe said in a statement carried by state media.

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“We are very curious about the background of the American top diplomat’s thoughtless remarks and we will watch what calculations he has. The U.S. had better not put any longer our patience to the test with such remarks irritating us if it doesn’t want to have bitter regrets afterward,” Choe added.

Choe’s comments come after Pompeo said Tuesday that the Trump administration recognized that “North Korea’s rogue behavior could not be ignored.”

“Americanism — it means telling the truth about the challenges we face,” Pompeo said. “Look, this administration didn’t pretend that the Islamic Republic of Iran was a responsible actor in the Middle East. We called out China’s bad behavior on trade and on national security. We recognized that North Korea’s rogue behavior could not be ignored.”

Washington has urged Pyongyang to dismantle its nuclear program, but talks have not advanced since a summit in Vietnam in February ended early without a deal.

President Trump Donald John TrumpFederal prosecutor speaks out, says Barr 'has brought shame' on Justice Dept. Former Pence aide: White House staffers discussed Trump refusing to leave office Progressive group buys domain name of Trump's No. 1 Supreme Court pick MORE has expressed optimism that he could reach a deal with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un Kim Jong UnNorth Korean leader Kim apologizes over killing of South Korean official Pelosi knocks Trump over refusal to commit to peaceful transfer of power Satellite images indicate North Korea preparing for massive military parade MORE after a historic meeting in June at the Korean Demilitarized Zone, but Pyongyang has launched a series of short-range projectiles since their June meeting, stoking fears that hopes for an agreement on denuclearization could be fading.