Russia's North Korea defense deal could create friction with China, warns U.S. general

Russian President Vladimir Putin's mutual defense agreement with North Korea has the potential to create friction with China, which has long been the reclusive state's main ally, the top U.S. military officer said on Sunday. "We’ve got someone else who's kind of nudging in now, so that may drive a little bit more friction between (China) and Russia," Air Force General C.Q. Brown, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told reporters during an overseas trip. "So it’ll be interesting to see how these three countries — how this plays out." Analysts said the pact, signed on Wednesday, could undercut…