A BADLY decomposed body, discovered hidden in a London house, has been identified as that of missing South Korean In Hea Song.

The body of the 22-year-old student was found earlier this month in a cupboard at the house where she had been staying, in Augusta Street, Poplar, east London.

Miss Song, who was a student at London Guildhall University, had visited York shortly before she vanished last December, prompting detectives to issue an appeal to city residents who may have spotted her.

The decaying state of Miss Song's body meant she had to be identified by DNA testing. Police had searched the house shortly after her disappearance, but found nothing.

The missing person inquiry was initially linked to the discovery of the bound-and-gagged body of Hyo Jung Jin, 21, which was found in a suitcase dumped in a country lane at Askham Richard, near York, on November 18.

Kyu Soo Kim, 30, from Holborn, central London, who has been charged with the murder of Miss Jin, is to stand trial in September.

He is due to appear at the Old Bailey on May 7 for a plea and directions hearing.