Washington June 15 (IANS) Newly-released video footage from Pyongyang media shows US President Donald Trump returning a salute to a North Korean military general during the Singapore summit an extraordinary display of respect from an American leader.
Returning a salute from a military officer of a friendly foreign nation is common practice for US military officers and considered a display of military professionalism. There is no rule that a US president is obliged to return a salute which is considered a sign of mutual respect reports CNN.
After Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un walked down a colonnade to shake hands at the Capella Hotel on Tuesday they entered into a room filled with various members of Kim s delegation the video from North Korean broadcaster KCTV news shows.
Trump starts to shake hands with those in the room. Upon encountering North Korean General No Kwang-chol who was in full uniform Trump first extends his hand to which the general responds with a salute.
Trump then salutes back extends his hand again and the two men shake hands.
A US official told CNN that Trump was briefed on protocol which is to not salute military officers from other countries.
The White House however is not viewing Trump saluting a North Korean general as a mistake. It is being seen as all part of the broader goal that day which was to show respect to Kim and his entourage according to the official.
During Thursday s White House media briefing press secretary Sarah Sanders said Trump was just using "common courtesy".
"It s a common courtesy when a military official from another government salutes that you return that " Sanders said.
Trump frequently salutes people he sees in a military uniform.
Trump s salute also evokes criticism President Barack Obama received early in his presidency when he bowed to the Saudi Arabian king.
At the time Trump called Obama an "amateur".

--IANS ksk/vm