iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Robin Christopher Brehm @rcbrehm.bsky.social · 12/08/2025

Until the pardon by one or the other president.

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Robin Christopher Brehm @rcbrehm.bsky.social · 11/08/2025

DerStandard has an interesting way of framing the international success of Chinese video games: "China continues to attack the gaming industry." The complacency and risk-aversion of "established" AAA game devs and publishers, mostly in the US, Europe, and Japan, are the problem, not China.

derstandard.at

Ein Affe verändert alles: China greift weiter die Gaming-Branche an

In Sachen Handygames schon lange eine fixe Größe, will China nun auch große Blockbuster-Games produzieren. Die Vorzeichen stehen gut

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Robin Christopher Brehm @rcbrehm.bsky.social · 03/04/2025

A fascinating read by Ifang Bremer highlighting the diverse and often conflicting political views among those who relocated from the DPRK.

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Robin Christopher Brehm @rcbrehm.bsky.social · 24/03/2025

Very true. Easy access is unfortunately a privilege even in 2025. Every vote counts!

Robin Christopher Brehm @rcbrehm.bsky.social · 23/03/2025

Vienna is a fantastic place to live in but every local or national election period is making my stomach turn. Poster spotted today in the 20th district. "German is compulsory, Habibi" "Make Vienna smart again" This comes from the christian-democratic/liberal-conservatives. Worse posters exist.

Robin Christopher Brehm @rcbrehm.bsky.social · 05/03/2025

An unfortunate turn of events so soon after tours resumed to the DPRK. Exchange is important, for both sides.

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Robin Christopher Brehm @rcbrehm.bsky.social · 16/02/2025

On Tuesday, Feb 18, the Korea Health Policy Project's webinar series "North Korea's International Health Engagement" continues with Session 2 on "How North Korea Managed the COVID-19 Pandemic." I recommend to have a look. More information here: ecnk.univie.ac.at/events/event...

ecnk.univie.ac.at

[Webinar] North Korea's International Health Engagement: Past, Present, and Future

Join Session 2 of the webinar series on February 18, 2025.

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Robin Christopher Brehm @rcbrehm.bsky.social · 02/02/2025

"indicative" might be the better term.

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Robin Christopher Brehm @rcbrehm.bsky.social · 02/02/2025

The USAID website going offline is a strange occurrence considering the Trump administration’s 90-day "pause." Addressing power imbalances in humanitarian aid and its dependencies is critically important but freezing aid to make a statement is outright diabolical, regardless of freeze exemptions.

Irwin @irwinloy.bsky.social · 23/01/2025

Reposted by Robin Christopher Brehm

📊 Is now a bad time for a data dump on the humanitarian system’s dependence on US funding? #Trump @newhumanitarian.bsky.social ➡️ www.thenewhumanitarian.org/newsletter/2...

A chart showing the percentage of US funding for different humanitarian sectors in 2024

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Robin Christopher Brehm @rcbrehm.bsky.social · 14/01/2025

Jan 15, 16:45-18:15 Vienna time, Prof. Kim Sung-Kyung of the University of North Korean Studies will hold a guest lecture at the University of Vienna about the representation of North Koreans in South Korean popular culture. Join us here or tune in via Zoom! ecos.univie.ac.at/guest-lectur...

ecos.univie.ac.at

RSVP Sung Kyung Kim (Jan 15, 2025)

Robin Christopher Brehm @rcbrehm.bsky.social · 06/01/2025

That depends on how the recipient of the message understands what meaningful success and development means and which criteria are used to evaluate it. Perspectives differ greatly, e.g., between the institution creating the poster and you or me. Therefore, the question has no simple answer.

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Robin Christopher Brehm @rcbrehm.bsky.social · 06/01/2025

Now I finally remember where I have seen the drone model shown in this poster before. It was presented at the farm machine industry development exhibition in early 2023. Later in June, another model was shown on Korean Central TV www.northkoreatech.org/2023/06/13/a...

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Reposted by Robin Christopher Brehm

Steven Denney @stevendenney86.bsky.social · 06/01/2025

Taking a step back from the fray of politics and political scandal in South Korea, data show that attitudes toward political rule are changing. Compared to its peer group of liberal democracies, support for democracy is in modest decline, but the story is much more complicated. 📊🧵

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Robin Christopher Brehm @rcbrehm.bsky.social · 04/01/2025

45/ Thank you for your attention! Looking at North Korean propaganda posters is a neat exercise, showing what the leadership supposedly deems important. However, it's important to note that the insights we can gather from this material are limited. Corrections and comments arewelcome!

Robin Christopher Brehm @rcbrehm.bsky.social · 04/01/2025

44/ That concludes the Jan 2025 poster set published by KCNA. Here is a link to the associated article at KCNA Watch: kcnawatch.org/newstream/17... This page also includes a link to the KCNA source containing the images. The source does not operate with https, so proceed at your own risk.

kcnawatch.org

Newstream | KCNA Watch

Robin Christopher Brehm @rcbrehm.bsky.social · 04/01/2025

43/ Main slogan: "Expand fish farming and aquaculture on a large scale!" The image features two workers at an aquaculture plant for both farming fish and seaweed. Unfortunately, I have no flippin' clue about fish. But please share if you know what kind of fish is shown here.

Robin Christopher Brehm @rcbrehm.bsky.social · 04/01/2025

42/ Side note: The ship shown here is the JANG SU SAN (IMO: 9966491), a general cargo ship, which was investigated by the UN Panel of Experts in 2022 for potentially sanctions-violating activities in Chinese waters. Such detailed information can be found at dprk-reports.org

dprk-reports.org

Robin Christopher Brehm @rcbrehm.bsky.social · 04/01/2025

41/ Main slogan: "Let us fully ensure the transportation needs of the people’s economy!" The poster emphasizes the importance of transportation vehicles for the development of the North Korean economy. Trucks, trains, vessels. The background shows a mix of cityscape and industrial buildings.

Robin Christopher Brehm @rcbrehm.bsky.social · 04/01/2025

40/ and other individuals in what does not look like combat gear. One of them wears a gas mask. If I may add my interpretation, this seems to address the readinessy for domestic mobilization for the defense of the country, not mobilization in the sense of fighting abroad.

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Robin Christopher Brehm @rcbrehm.bsky.social · 04/01/2025

39/ Main slogan: "Be fully prepared for combat mobilization!" The only military-related poster in this set. It features a man shooting what looks like an Type 58 assault rifle, the North Korean version of the AK-47. But please don't quote me on that. In the background, we can see rocket fire, ...

Robin Christopher Brehm @rcbrehm.bsky.social · 04/01/2025

38/ The two figures, a worker and an officer, hold some conifer saplings. I can't quite read all signs in the background, but they refer to the patriotic effort of cultivating forests. The DPRK has long struggled with the detrimental effects of deforestation on flood resilience and food security.

Robin Christopher Brehm @rcbrehm.bsky.social · 04/01/2025

37/ Main slogan: "Let us push forward forest restoration as a partywide and nationwide project!" The image background shows some ecological complex in the midst of a lush, green mountainous area, perhaps meant to cultivate saplings that can be planted later on.

Robin Christopher Brehm @rcbrehm.bsky.social · 04/01/2025

36/ The poster shows one player holding the FIFA World Cup trophy. I am not really sure, who exactly the player is but apparently neither golden ball winner Choe Il Son nor Jon Il Chong. We can also see other sports: weightlifting, table tennis, boxing, and Taekwondo(?).

Robin Christopher Brehm @rcbrehm.bsky.social · 04/01/2025

35/ Main slogan: "Let us bring honor to the motherland with gold medals!" Did you know that junior female football teams dominate the game? This year, both the U-17 and the U-20 team won the World Cup. Beating the USA and Japan probably helped the domestic excitement for the sport.

Robin Christopher Brehm @rcbrehm.bsky.social · 04/01/2025

34/ In the background, we can see pretty residences and a cityscape with high-rise buildings. The poster conveys the appeal to be self-reliant and produce all necessary commodities domestically rather than relying on imports.

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Robin Christopher Brehm @rcbrehm.bsky.social · 04/01/2025

33/ Main slogan: "Let us actively pursue diversification, variety, and the domestic production of finishing materials!" The poster shows a worker carrying a window, surrounded by different types of construction products: Tiles, acrylic paint, windows, and what looks like doors.

Robin Christopher Brehm @rcbrehm.bsky.social · 04/01/2025

32/ The image shows a worker/designer working on a construction blueprint. The background is filled with industrial/agricultural vehicles, machinery including CNC machines which the DPRK leadership invested heavily in, pipes, and industrial plants. The plant slogan again reads "self-reliance."

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Robin Christopher Brehm @rcbrehm.bsky.social · 04/01/2025

31/ Main slogan: "Let us achieve meaningful scientific and technological successes in the development of the people’s economy!" 과학기술 (Science and technology) is a recurring term in North Korean posters. The development of new tech and methods will supposedly help advancing at a faster pace.

Robin Christopher Brehm @rcbrehm.bsky.social · 04/01/2025

30/ Message: If you work hard, the people will be able to enjoy a good life; no need unsatiated. The cart shows base products like soybean paste but also some sweets. The kid holds another box of candy. The serenity and happiness is an interesting take on grocery shopping with children.

Robin Christopher Brehm @rcbrehm.bsky.social · 04/01/2025

29/ Main slogan: "Let the people see real benefit!" After all, someone has to consume all these products that everyone is supposed to work hard for. In the poster, we can see a happy nuclear family while grocery shopping. The (weirdly narrow) shopping cart is filled to the brim with products.

Robin Christopher Brehm @rcbrehm.bsky.social · 04/01/2025

28/ Main slogan: "Let us normalize production at local industrial factories!" The image shows a factory worker controlling the bottling process of various soy products. In the background, we see an industrial complex highlighted very green. Again, get up and contribute to production!

Robin Christopher Brehm @rcbrehm.bsky.social · 04/01/2025

27/ The background shows vast fields full of high-yield grain. But most interesting here: The use of drones for agricultural purposes. There is another slogan on a mounted banner in the background, but I can't read it.

Robin Christopher Brehm @rcbrehm.bsky.social · 04/01/2025

26/ Main slogan: "Let us make every effort to achieve the grain production target!" No poster set without farmers. This one shows agricultural machines in the front, different types of fertilizer, high yield, joyful farmers and an intellectual holding the book "Agricultural science and technology."

Robin Christopher Brehm @rcbrehm.bsky.social · 04/01/2025

25/ In the background, we can see more clean cityscapes and pretty new hourses. I am not good with orientation and street names but likely some neighborhoods of Pyongyang are on display here.

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Robin Christopher Brehm @rcbrehm.bsky.social · 04/01/2025

24/ Main slogan: "Let us drastically improve the quality of construction!" So, quality over quantity? As you can see, the messages across these posters can be mixed. The poster shows a construction worker seemingly pleased with his level of precision in his work.

Robin Christopher Brehm @rcbrehm.bsky.social · 04/01/2025

23/ An industrial worker is cheering (you) on to increase cement production. The background shows a large number of cement bags in front of industrial plants. There is another incomplete slogan below the worker's fist mentioning some effort towards victory. Construction sector, ho!

Robin Christopher Brehm @rcbrehm.bsky.social · 04/01/2025

22/ Main slogan: "Everyone join the struggle to increase cement production!" Top slogan: "The struggle for increased production and the movement for increased production are the true spirit of the Korean people." Background slogan: "Let us carry on our own way!"

Robin Christopher Brehm @rcbrehm.bsky.social · 04/01/2025

21/ Main slogan: "Vigorously carry out the increased production movement for more coal!" Not as emphatically green but coal is still a vital source of energy in the DPRK. We can see a coal miner drilling(?) away while the plentiful yield is shown in the background. Wear your mask; safety first.