A North Korean diplomat has dismissed the United States’ recent declaration that Washington's policy of “strategic patience” with Pyongyang has ended.

Phoenix Satellite Television reported on Wednesday that Jang Song-chol, Consul-General of the North’s Consulate General in Hong Kong, said the U.S. should have ended the policy sooner.

During an interview held a day earlier with the Hong Kong-based media, Jang said the Trump administration is "sitting in the dark" regarding its policy on the North, and is just following the policies that the Obama government pursued for the past eight years.

Last week, U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson declared an end to their policy of "strategic patience" and said the U.S. was exploring a range of measures on the North, including military options.