Story highlights Common interests around North Korea are helping to bring Moscow and Beijing together

Russia and China share a border and trade; while suspicions remain, the alliance is growing

Moscow (CNN) With another crisis looming on the Korean Peninsula, it's extraordinary how old rivals Russia and China are -- yet again -- speaking with a single voice.

Presidents Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping just had a summit in Moscow at which the countries issued a joint statement, articulating a common peace plan for the peninsula, and together condemning US militarization in the region.

Indeed, Russia and China have common interests there.

Both share a land border with North Korea and have diplomatic relations with Pyongyang.

But, above all, both are desperate to check US ambitions in their backyards.

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