A BODY thought to be that of a missing South Korean student who visited York shortly before her disappearance will not be identified for several days, police said today.

In Hea Song, 22, who was studying at London Guildhall University, has not been seen since December 8.

A body was discovered on Friday at a house in east London where Ms Song is known to have stayed.

A Metropolitan Police spokeswoman said a post-mortem examination on the body had been completed, but the results were not yet available.

At the time of going to press, the body's sex had not been determined.

The spokeswoman said: "The body was removed from the house on Sunday and it is now at Poplar mortuary.

"It is not likely that a formal identification of this body will be made for several days."

In Hea Song's disappearance was initially linked by police to the discovery of 21-year-old Hyo Jung Jin, whose body was discovered in a suitcase in Askham Richard, near York, in November.

Kyu Soo Kim, 30, from Holborn, central London, has been charged with her murder.

Friday's find was made by the new occupants of the house in Augusta Street, Poplar, east London.

Police have said they could not discuss the circumstances in which the body was found, and they could not speculate about its identity.

The spokeswoman said Miss Song's parents would be told.

A spokeswoman for North Yorkshire Police today confirmed the force had no information about the body's discovery.

Updated: 11:28 Monday, March 18, 2002