As Russia and North Korea grow closer, China keeps its distance NBC News Technology By: Janis Mackey Frayer and Abigail Williams and Reuters 24 June 2024 at 07:14 Deepening cooperation between Russia and North Korea could create an uncomfortable situation for China, which is close with both countries. ยฉ Gavriil GrigorovNorth Korean civilians welcoming Putin to Pyongyang. ยฉ Mikhail TereshchenkoChinese President Xi Jinping with Putin in Moscow last year.