BANGKOK (AP) — U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo says the Trump administration is ready to resume talks with North Korea now, although he regrets a meeting between the two sides is unlikely at an Asian security conference this week in Bangkok.

Pompeo says he and his chief negotiator had hoped to meet with a senior North Korean official while in the Thai capital for the annual Association of Southeast Asian Nations Regional Forum. But he said Thursday that it looked like they would not have the opportunity to do so in Bangkok.

Despite the apparent stand-up by the North, Pompeo said he is "optimistic" that a new round of working level talks will resume soon. His comments come even after the North announced progress in missile tests conducted over the past week.