Asia Specific

Will North Korea’s next leader be Kim Jong Un’s daughter? It’s time to meet Kim Ju Ae. For the past 15 years Kim Jong Un has been the face of North Korea, but now a new Kim is increasingly sharing the stage. Is Kim Ju Ae being prepared to become the first female leader in the country’s history? Or will North Korea's male-dominated political and dynastic culture prove too strong for that to happen?
This episode was republished on 1 February 2026, as the original version contained factual errors about who Kim Ju Ae has met.
Asia Specific host Mariko Oi is joined by the BBC’s Seoul correspondent Jake Kwon and Rupert Wingfield-Hayes, a former BBC correspondent who was detained in Pyongyang for three days in 2016.
Asia Pacific, unpacked by those who know it best: Asia Specific brings you essential insights and conversations on the stories shaping the region - an economic powerhouse, geo-political flashpoint and the birthplace of global cultural trends. Hear Asian perspectives on international issues and in-depth analysis on news from a region that’s home to nearly 2.5 billion people. Whether it is the latest on trade between the US and China, the rise and fall of political dynasties in Thailand, Indonesia, and the Philippines, or South Korea’s K-pop inspired soft power strategy, we find out what key players are thinking and dive into the stories that matter. Hosted in Singapore by Mariko Oi, alongside BBC experts in Beijing, Bangkok, and beyond – listen to new episodes twice a week. Episodes of Asia Specific are also available on the BBC World Service YouTube channel, here: https://bit.ly/4iJyeVt Get in touch: [email protected]

Will North Korea’s next leader be Kim Jong Un’s daughter? It’s time to meet Kim Ju Ae. For the past 15 years Kim Jong Un has been the face of North Korea, but now a new Kim is increasingly sharing the stage. Kim Ju Ae has become a regular fixture at her father’s side during major events. Is she being prepared to become the first female leader in the country’s history? Or will North Korea's male-dominated political and dynastic culture prove too strong for that to happen?
Asia Specific host Mariko Oi is joined by the BBC’s Seoul correspondent Jake Kwon and Rupert Wingfield-Hayes, a former BBC correspondent who was detained in Pyongyang for three days in 2016.

Asia Pacific, unpacked by those who know it best: Asia Specific brings you essential insights and conversations on the stories shaping the region - an economic powerhouse, geo-political flashpoint and the birthplace of global cultural trends.
Hear Asian perspectives on international issues and in-depth analysis on news from a region that’s home to nearly 2.5 billion people.
Whether it is the latest on trade between the US and China, the rise and fall of political dynasties in Thailand, Indonesia, and the Philippines, or South Korea’s K-pop inspired soft power strategy, we find out what key players are thinking and dive into the stories that matter.
Hosted in Singapore by Mariko Oi, alongside BBC experts in Beijing, Bangkok, and beyond – listen to new episodes twice a week.
Episodes of Asia Specific are also available on the BBC World Service YouTube channel, here: https://bit.ly/4iJyeVt
Get in touch: [email protected]

China’s President Xi Jinping is overseeing an unprecedented purge of military generals. In late 2022, Xi Jinping appointed six men to serve under him at the top of China’s 2-million strong armed forces. Now, in just over three years, he has removed five out of six of the members of the Central Military Commission, or CMC. One by one, they have been placed under investigation for corruption and disciplinary breaches. The initial removal of some of the lower-ranking figures in the military leadership body attracted attention, but now the downfall of the top general, Zhang Youxia has shocked analysts. He was Xi Jinping’s deputy. This has fuelled speculation and raised questions about how it will affect the capability of the People's Liberation Army, or PLA, in combat. Asia Specific host Mariko Oi is joined by Laura Bicker, the BBC’s China correspondent, and Yang Zi, a Chinese military and strategic studies specialist at Nanyang Technological University in Singapore. Asia Pacific, unpacked by those who know it best: Asia Specific brings you essential insights and conversations on the stories shaping the region - an economic powerhouse, geo-political flashpoint and the birthplace of global cultural trends. Hear Asian perspectives on international issues and in-depth analysis on news from a region that’s home to nearly 2.5 billion people. Whether it is the latest on trade between the US and China, the rise and fall of political dynasties in Thailand, Indonesia, and the Philippines, or South Korea’s K-pop inspired soft power strategy, we find out what key players are thinking and dive into the stories that matter. Hosted in Singapore by Mariko Oi, alongside BBC experts in Beijing, Bangkok, and beyond – listen to new episodes twice a week. Episodes of Asia Specific are also available on the BBC World Service YouTube channel, here: https://bit.ly/4iJyeVt Get in touch: [email protected]

China’s President Xi Jinping is overseeing an unprecedented purge of military generals. In late 2022, Xi Jinping appointed six men to serve under him at the top of China’s 2-million strong armed forces. Now, in just over three years, he has removed five out of six of the members of the Central Military Commission, or CMC. One by one, they have been placed under investigation for corruption and disciplinary breaches. The initial removal of some of the lower-ranking figures in the military leadership body attracted attention, but now the downfall of the top general, Zhang Youxia has shocked analysts. He was Xi Jinping’s deputy. This has fuelled speculation and raised questions about how it will affect the capability of the People's Liberation Army, or PLA, in combat.
Asia Specific host Mariko Oi is joined by Laura Bicker, the BBC’s China correspondent, and Yang Zi, a Chinese military and strategic studies specialist at Nanyang Technological University in Singapore.


Asia Pacific, unpacked by those who know it best: Asia Specific brings you essential insights and conversations on the stories shaping the region - an economic powerhouse, geo-political flashpoint and the birthplace of global cultural trends.
Hear Asian perspectives on international issues and in-depth analysis on news from a region that’s home to nearly 2.5 billion people.
Whether it is the latest on trade between the US and China, the rise and fall of political dynasties in Thailand, Indonesia, and the Philippines, or South Korea’s K-pop inspired soft power strategy, we find out what key players are thinking and dive into the stories that matter.
Hosted in Singapore by Mariko Oi, alongside BBC experts in Beijing, Bangkok, and beyond – listen to new episodes twice a week.
Episodes of Asia Specific are also available on the BBC World Service YouTube channel, here: https://bit.ly/4iJyeVt
Get in touch: [email protected]

The Philippines is one of the world’s largest exporters of labour, sending millions of workers overseas each year - many of them women employed as domestic helpers in places like Singapore and Hong Kong. For families struggling with low wages and limited opportunities at home, overseas work can mean financial stability through remittances.
But that choice comes at a cost. Parents leave children behind, families are split for years at a time, and migrant workers often face isolation, limited rights, and in some cases, serious abuse.
In this episode, host Mariko Oi speaks with journalist Regine Cabato in Manila and Jaya Anil Kumar from migrant worker advocacy group HOME about why Filipinos continue to leave, the social trauma felt by families left behind, and whether the country can ever build an economy that doesn’t rely on exporting its people.
Asia Pacific, unpacked by those who know it best. Bringing you essential insights and conversations on the stories shaping the region - an economic powerhouse, geo-political flashpoint and the birthplace of global cultural trends.
Hear Asian perspectives on international issues and in-depth analysis on news from a region that’s home to nearly 2.5 billion people.
Whether it is the latest on trade between the US and China, the rise and fall of political dynasties in Thailand, Indonesia, and the Philippines, or South Korea’s K-pop inspired soft power strategy, we find out what key players are thinking and dive into the stories that matter.
Hosted in Singapore by Mariko Oi, alongside BBC experts in Beijing, Bangkok, and beyond – listen to new episodes twice a week.
Episodes of Asia Specific are also available on YouTube, here: https://bit.ly/4iJyeVt
Get in touch: [email protected]