The White House defends Trump saluting a North Korean general as a 'common courtesy'
- Critics have attacked Trump after North Korea released footage of the US President saluting a North Korean general.
- The White House has defended his actions, arguing that it was a "common courtesy" and he was simply returning a salute from the general.
- One retired US major general said: "It is wholly inappropriate for the commander in chief of our armed forces to salute the military of our adversary."
The White House is defending President Donald Trump's decision to return a military salute to a North Korean three-star general as a "common courtesy."
Presidential spokeswoman Sarah Huckabee Sanders said Thursday that "It's a common courtesy when a military official from another government salutes, that you return that."
North Korean state media has released video of Trump reaching out to shake the hand of the minister of the People's Armed Forces, No Kwang Chol, who instead saluted during the summit in Singapore. The two then reversed gestures, with Trump saluting and the general reaching out to shake hands. The pair eventually shook hands.
The awkward moment raised some eyebrows because the U.S. and North Korea technically are still at war despite Trump's summit this week with Kim Jong Un.
As CNN's Chris Cillizza put it: "The salute is, according to military protocol, a sign of respect and mutual admiration. For the President of the United States to send that signal to a North Korean general struck many people as odd at best, and insulting at worst, to the tens of thousands of North Koreans who have struggled under Kim's dictatorship."
In a statement given to The New York Times, retired major general Paul Eaton said: "It is wholly inappropriate for the commander in chief of our armed forces to salute the military of our adversary, especially one which is responsible for a regime of terror, murder and unspeakable horror against its own people."
Others have played down the significance of Trump's gesture - arguing he was merely being polite after the North Korean general saluted first.