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.

North Korea military parade celebrating nation's 70th anniversary Show all 18 1 /18 North Korea military parade celebrating nation's 70th anniversary North Korea military parade celebrating nation's 70th anniversary Participants wave flowers AFP/Getty North Korea military parade celebrating nation's 70th anniversary 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 North Korea military parade celebrating nation's 70th anniversary Airplanes forming the number 70 fly in formation and fire flares AP North Korea military parade celebrating nation's 70th anniversary North Korean performers dance EPA North Korea military parade celebrating nation's 70th anniversary North Korean military officers applaud near portraits of late North Korean leaders Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il AP North Korea military parade celebrating nation's 70th anniversary North Korean tanks roll past AP North Korea military parade celebrating nation's 70th anniversary Participants cheer as they take part in a parade for the 70th anniversary of North Korea's founding day in Pyongyang, North Korea, Sunday, Sept. 9, 2018. North Korea staged a major military parade, huge rallies and will revive its iconic mass games on Sunday to mark its 70th anniversary as a nation. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan) Ng Han Guan AP North Korea military parade celebrating nation's 70th anniversary Korean People's Army (KPA) soldiers take part AFP/Getty North Korea military parade celebrating nation's 70th anniversary Korean People's Army (KPA) soldiers march AFP/Getty North Korea military parade celebrating nation's 70th anniversary Participants march during a mass rally on Kim Il Sung square in Pyongyang AFP/Getty North Korea military parade celebrating nation's 70th anniversary A girl reacts during a parade AP North Korea military parade celebrating nation's 70th anniversary North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, right, reacts as he chats with China's third highest ranking official, Li Zhanshu AP North Korea military parade celebrating nation's 70th anniversary People carry flags in front of statues of North Korea founder Kim Il Sung (L) and late leader Kim Jong Il Reuters North Korea military parade celebrating nation's 70th anniversary Performers take part in a concert at the Pyongyang Indoor Stadium AFP/Getty North Korea military parade celebrating nation's 70th anniversary North Korean artillery roll past AP North Korea military parade celebrating nation's 70th anniversary Students perform Reuters North Korea military parade celebrating nation's 70th anniversary Soldiers march during a military parade Reuters North Korea military parade celebrating nation's 70th anniversary 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.

'Speed is not that important to me' Kim Jong Un listens as Trump says he's in 'no rush' over North Korea denuclearisation deal

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.