
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has answered what is believed to have been his first question from a Western reporter – declaring he was “not pessimistic” about the chances of the peace talks with the US.
Sitting with Donald Trump at Hanoi’s Hotel Metropole for their second day of talks, Mr Kim said he realised that for people watching around the world, the two leaders sitting side by side must resemble “a fantasy movie”.
For his part, Mr Trump sought to again temper any expectations of any substantial or rapid agreement between the two countries.
“I’ve been saying very much from the beginning that speed is not that important to me. Speed is not important to me. What is important is that we do the right deal,” he said.
If anything, Mr Kim appeared more optimistic. In what was believed to be his first interaction with a Western journalist, the 35-year-old was asked if he was confident about securing a deal with Mr Trump.
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Participants wave flowers
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North Korea’s leader Kim Jong Un (R) waves with China’s Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress Li Zhanshu (L) from a balcony
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Airplanes forming the number 70 fly in formation and fire flares
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North Korean performers dance
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North Korean military officers applaud near portraits of late North Korean leaders Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il
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North Korean tanks roll past
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AP
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Korean People’s Army (KPA) soldiers take part
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Korean People’s Army (KPA) soldiers march
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Participants march during a mass rally on Kim Il Sung square in Pyongyang
AFP/Getty
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A girl reacts during a parade
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North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, right, reacts as he chats with China’s third highest ranking official, Li Zhanshu
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People carry flags in front of statues of North Korea founder Kim Il Sung (L) and late leader Kim Jong Il
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Performers take part in a concert at the Pyongyang Indoor Stadium
AFP/Getty
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North Korean artillery roll past
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Students perform
Reuters
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Soldiers march during a military parade
Reuters
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Participants wave flowers
AFP/Getty
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Participants wave flowers
AFP/Getty
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North Korea’s leader Kim Jong Un (R) waves with China’s Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress Li Zhanshu (L) from a balcony
AFP/Getty
3/18
Airplanes forming the number 70 fly in formation and fire flares
AP
4/18
North Korean performers dance
EPA
5/18
North Korean military officers applaud near portraits of late North Korean leaders Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il
AP
6/18
North Korean tanks roll past
AP
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AP
8/18
Korean People’s Army (KPA) soldiers take part
AFP/Getty
9/18
Korean People’s Army (KPA) soldiers march
AFP/Getty
10/18
Participants march during a mass rally on Kim Il Sung square in Pyongyang
AFP/Getty
11/18
A girl reacts during a parade
AP
12/18
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, right, reacts as he chats with China’s third highest ranking official, Li Zhanshu
AP
13/18
People carry flags in front of statues of North Korea founder Kim Il Sung (L) and late leader Kim Jong Il
Reuters
14/18
Performers take part in a concert at the Pyongyang Indoor Stadium
AFP/Getty
15/18
North Korean artillery roll past
AP
16/18
Students perform
Reuters
17/18
Soldiers march during a military parade
Reuters
18/18
Participants wave flowers
AFP/Getty
Speaking through a translator, he replied “It’s too early to say. I would not say I’m pessimistic.”
While Mr Trump held a press conference at the conclusion of last June summit in Singapore at which he claimed the agreement with Mr Kim – modest, with few details and vague on timings – was a genuine breakthrough, his counterpart did not.
The fact he was willing to engage with the foreign media, and his positive, relaxed body language, was taken by some as a positive sign of what the two men might secure from the meeting.
Mr Trump told reporters that “a lot of great ideas were being thrown about”.
According to CNN, he said: “When you have a good relationship, a lot of good things happen.”
He said while the two sides were going to have “fantastic success”, he could not speak to what the results of Thursday’s summit might be.
He said: “I’m sure over the years we’ll be together a lot.”
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