Why North Korea is strong at women’s football - Asia Specific podcast, BBC World Service

North Korean women footballers are heading to South Korea in a closely watched match taking place at a moment of deep tension between the two neighbours. Click here to subscribe to our channel 👉🏽 https://bbc.in/3VyyriM The two Koreas are still technically at war, and official contact between Pyongyang and Seoul has been minimal in recent years. But sport has long played a unique role in inter-Korean relations - from unified Olympic marches to politically charged football matches played in empty stadiums. In this episode, host Mariko Oi speaks to BBC Seoul correspondent Jake Kwon and freelance sports reporter Daisy Yoo about why North Korea’s women’s football team has become one of the strongest in Asia and how one of the world’s most isolated countries built a football powerhouse. This episode was recorded on 18 May. 00:00 Introduction 01:23 Why this rare North Korea-South Korea football match is happening 02:15 How South Koreans feel about the match 03:00 The South Korean government’s organised cheering squad 04:05 The history of sports diplomacy between the two Koreas 06:09 When the world realised North Korea’s women’s football team was elite 06:43 North Korea’s bizarre doping scandal 07:35 How traditional medicine became an international sports controversy 09:03 Why North Korea’s women football team is so strong 10:04 The rewards North Korean footballers reportedly receive for winning 12:50 What happens when North Korean athletes lose? 14:28 Can North Korea keep up as women’s football grows globally? 15:55 Could this match lead to renewed Seoul-Pyongyang engagement? Watch more episodes of Asia Specific here 👉🏽 https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLz_B0PFGIn4c3njIxB0KHuO8SS2mBMtUc Instagram: @bbcworldservice Email: asiaspecific@bbc.co.uk Presenter: Mariko Oi Producers: Derek Cai, Rachel Lee Camera: Muhammad Firdaus Bin Mohd Ansary, Rosalehin Bin Rosli, Fahmi Jamal Editor: Bill Birtles ---------------- This is the official BBC World Service YouTube channel. If you like what we do, you can also find us here: Instagram 👉🏽 https://www.instagram.com/bbcworldservice Twitter 👉🏽 https://twitter.com/bbcworldservice Facebook 👉🏽 https://facebook.com/bbcworldservice BBC World Service website 👉🏽 https://www.bbc.co.uk/worldserviceradio Thanks for watching and subscribing! #BBCWorldService #WorldService #northkorea #football #southkorea #kimjongun