Trump-Kim summit: REALITY of leaders' views REVEALED by Asian etiquette and body language

Body language can be influenced by culture, and both leaders grew up in very different worlds. Expert in Korean culture and business etiquette Julie Giguere noted some important body language signals exchanged between the two leaders and what they signify. Ms Giguere told Express.co.uk: “There are a number of differences between American and North Korean etiquette that need to be taken into account.”

What looks like small initial gestures between the two leaders means more than what meets the eye, the expert revealed.

Ms Giguere said: “The bow plays an important role in Korean greetings and etiquette in general.

“This is one of the ways in which Trump could show a small amount of recognisable politeness and respect to the North Korean leader without being too friendly, especially given they have met before.”

Considering another countries customs and values is an important aspect of showing respect when being part of a high profile meeting.

For Trump’s meetings with Kim Jong-un a blunt “no” is not acceptable in Korean business etiquette and considered rude.

Mrs Giguere said: “Giving a straight ‘no’ is simply not done in North Korean business etiquette. You might suggest maybe, but you would never just say no. It’s an easy way to be very rude and this is something on which the president should certainly have been advised.”

Both leaders finished their initial meeting and before heading to the summit meeting Trump invited Kim Jong-un to walk ahead of him.

Mrs Giguere said: “This could be interpreted as a desire to calm the situation and the president also used his hand to guide the younger man, which can be seen as an indication of a desire to assert dominance.”

Mrs Giguere also noted the last time the two leaders met Kim Jong-un spent a lot of the time looking down and listening to Trump as he spoke in “largely a conciliatory manner”.

She added: “Trump’s more aggressive body language and Kim patting Trump on the shoulder, both of which were interpreted as a desire to assert control, belied the apparent passivity on both sides.”

source: express.co.uk