China watching North Korea's friendship with Russia

Fears over the budding alliance between Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong Un have peaked in recent weeks .

Reports of North Korea deploying thousands of troops to support Russia 's invasion of Ukraine .

Beijing too is caught between its sanctioned neighbours and its allies.

Beijing seeks to be the stable leader of a new world order.

North Korean refugees began wading through an often freezing Tumen river at the risk of being shot dead to escape hunger, poverty and repression.

There are now more than 30,000 of them in South Korea and an unknown number still live in China .

Beijing finds itself smarting from a lack of gratitude as Kim ’s lips are “kissing elsewhere” Analysts have noted that Kim has consistently flattered Putin over Xi in the last year .

Experts believe Xi is unlikely to do anything drastic because China needs a stable North Korea if he cuts off aid, he would likely have a refugee crisis at the border.

Kim 's deadly gamble could also have a profound impact closer to home - the 25 million North Koreans who are cut off from the outside world.