Doing a trade deal with India soon: Trump in South Korea; calls Modi 'nicest-looking guy'

US President Donald Trump on Wednesday said he was going to do a trade deal with India and had great respect for PM Narendra Modi.

"If you look at India and Pakistan — so I am doing a trade deal with India and have great respect and love for Prime Minister Narendra Modi. We have a great relationship," said Trump on Wednesday in South Korea, on the last leg of his Asia tour.

Noting that the US and India would have a trade deal soon, Trump also said Modi was the "nicest looking guy" and "tough as hell."

Although it was not immediately clear when the long-delayed trade deal would come through, Trump's positive remarks signalled that India and the US may have resolved some sticking points around US anxieties about Indian purchase of Russian oil and Indian anxieties about the US insistence on opening up the farm sector for American imports.

Trump was speaking at the APEC (Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation) CEOs luncheon in Gyeongju, South Korea.