Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong Un were the main guest stars of lavish celebrations held in Beijing to mark the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II last week, flanking Chinese President Xi Jinping at key events in a clear signal of the three countries’ newfound solidarity.

Many observers interpreted these scenes as evidence that a trilateral military-political alliance is in the making, no doubt as the three countries intended. They argued that the Russia-China-North Korea “Northern Triangle” will confront the emerging “Southern Triangle” of the U.S., Japan and South Korea.