My sister, Paula, made an interesting observation. By way of background, putting a hand on the other person’s back – or any body part, really – is a sign of dominance. A father puts his hand on the son’s shoulder, not the other way around; the homeowner puts her hand on the gardener’s arm to direct his attention. 

When Donald Trump, President of the United States, and   Kim Jong-un, Supreme Leader of North Korea, first made a joint press conference at Capella Resort, Singapore, Kim seemed completely out of his league. He had obviously had never been in front of a gaggle of press and photographers before, not one that large, at least. Trump looked like the kind father, hand on Kim’s back, guiding the naive newcomer around. By the last meeting, however, Kim was doing the guiding.