‘Song Byeok', the alias he goes by, is a former patriot and propaganda artist for the North Korean state. Imprisonment, hunger and fear drove him to escape the dictatorship 11 years ago. This week, CNN's ‘Talk Asia' meets Byeok at his first ever international exhibition in the U.S. to find out about life under Kim Jong Il, and how even freedom cannot heal some wounds.

This week CNN's Talk Asia meets up with Manolo Blahnik, one of the world's most influential footwear designers.

A so-called 'Holy Man of Heels', Blahnik's shoes have been worn by a long list of celebrities and public figures, including Madonna, Kate Moss and Princess Diana. CNN's Anna Coren finds out how a legendary Vogue editor steered him into the industry, what inspires him, and why he's been known to wear his own high heels.

This month, CNNGo travels to the historic heart of Japan and the neighboring cities of Kyoto and Osaka.

With Japan still reeling from its worst disaster since World War II, a team of underdogs lifted the Women's World Cup trophy and, at the same time, a nation from grief. This week on Talk Asia, CNN's Kyung Lah meets up with Japan's national women's football team captain and FIFA Women's World Player of the Year, Homare Sawa.

Beginning today, on International Women's Day, CNN International viewers will have the chance to meet some of the most influential women of our time, in a new series that will shed light on their careers, lives and ideas.