The Chinese and Russian embassies in Pyongyang jointly commemorated the 80th anniversary of Japan’s surrender in World War II on Friday, in a symbolic move that experts say reflects growing alignment between Beijing, Moscow and North Korea amid deepening tensions with the West.

Chinese and Russian ambassadors Wang Yajun and Alexander Matsegora attended the Friday event, held at the Chinese Embassy, along with Chinese Minister Feng Chuntai, Defense Attaché Major General Wang Yisheng, Counselor Gao Wu, Counselor Xu Feng, Russia’s Minister Counselor Vladimir Topekha, Defense Attaché Major General Alexei Bartusov and Political Counselor Andrei Shutov.

China and the Soviet Union