Daily Times

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and US President Donald Trump met at their historic summit in Singapore. Reuters spoke with a body language expert to analyse Kim’s and Trump’s movements during their initial meet.

Making introductions

The first 60 seconds showed both leaders seeking to take charge in their encounter, according to body language expert Karen Leong, Managing Director of Influence Solutions in Singapore.

The handshake

The handshake lasted about 13-seconds with both Trump and Kim appearing to greet each other with equal strength. Trump has been known to initiate his dominating handshakes.

The pats

Trump was seen placing his hand on Kim’s shoulder and back several times, indicating the desire to establish dominance and ownership of the situation.

Trump talks, Kim listens

Trump did most of the talking, and Kim appeared to listen attentively, turning to him several times during their walk toward their meeting room. In response, Kim patted the US President’s arm, in an attempt to show control over the encounter.

Sitting down one-on-one

Kim and Trump were led into the library. During this moment, both found it difficult to conceal their nervousness once they were seated, according to Leong.

Trump’s hands

Trump sat upright with his hands in the steeple shape, a power position Trump often displays. The gesture shows confidence and self-assurance. However, Trump was also seen fidgeting with his hands in this position, indicating some uncertainty.

Kim’s posture

Kim leaned to the side on the arm of the chair towards Trump, and looked down a few times, suggesting slight unease and a traditional Korean sense of deference, Leong said.

S Korea hails Trump-Kim summit as ‘talks of the century’

South Koreans erupted in applause Tuesday as Donald Trump and Kim Jong Un met for what local media billed as the “talks of the century”.

As the historic first meeting between a sitting US president and North Korean leader began in Singapore, images of Trump and Kim exchanging handshakes and warm words drew jubilant reactions in Seoul and hopes for a new beginning with Pyongyang.

“We hope the summit will be a success and bring us a complete denuclearisation, peace and a new era” in relations between the two Koreas and the United States, South Korean President Moon Jae-in said.

Moon, whose earlier meetings with Kim had paved the way for the Singapore summit, smiled and applauded alongside his cabinet ministers as they watched live-streamed scenes from the summit at the presidential Blue House.

He has spent “a sleepless night” with excitement ahead of the meeting, his office said.

The English language Korea Times welcomed the meeting as a step towards ending tensions on the Korean peninsula, which has been divided between the communist North and democratic South for nearly 70 years.

Published in Daily Times, June 13^th 2018.