The mystery over the identity of a woman seen by the side of the leader of the world's most reclusive nation may have been solved.
South Korean intelligence experts have been poring over images of the young woman pictured with Kim Jong-Un last week.
According to the experts, she is Hyon Song-Wol - a pop star who first met Kim Jong-Un a decade ago after he returned from an elite private school in the Swiss city of Berne.
But his father Kim Jong-Il, who died last December, reportedly ordered him to end the relationship.
A South Korean intelligence official told the JoongAng Daily newspaper in Seoul: "The two have known each other since they were in their teens and rumours about the two having an affair have been circulating among Pyongyang's top elite."
Miss Hyon appeared by Kim Jong-Un's side last week at a high-profile event in the North Korean capital, Pyongyang .
She was seen in a sombre black suit bowing with Mr Kim as part of a ceremony to mark the 18th anniversary of the death of Kim Il-Sung, the country's founder.
Miss Hyon was also seen at his side at a concert. State television showed Minnie Mouse, Tigger and other characters dance for Mr Kim and the young woman by his side.
North Korea would never publicly discuss the woman's identity.
But it is thought Miss Hyon used to front a band which enjoyed North Korean chart success with hits including I love Pyongyang and We Are Troops Of The Party.
It is being reported the singer was married and had a baby with an officer in the North Korean army.
But given the secretive nature of the ruling regime, details about her cannot be independently verified.
There had been speculation if the mystery woman was not a companion of Mr Kim she may have been a previously unseen sister or relative.
Another possibility was that she could be the daughter of one of his late father Kim Jong-Il's mistresses.
But if she is being presented to the world as a companion of the new supreme leader that would mark a real departure from the ways of the past - wives of Kim Jong-Il were never seen in public.
Her identity is causing such interest because so little is known about Kim Jong-Un - not even his exact age. He is thought to be in his late twenties.
The outside world is watching for signs as to the style, thinking and intentions of North Korea's leader because of his country's reclusive nature and nuclear programme.
When Kim Jong-Un came to power, he said he would suspend long-range missile tests in order to receive US food aid - then announced plans for a rocket launch which went ahead unsuccessfully in April.
Pyongyang denied it was a missile test in disguise and maintained the mission failed to put a weather satellite into orbit.
The White House suspended a deal for significant food aid to the country after the incident.
Mr Kim took up the mantle of North Korea's supreme leadership with little political or military leadership experience behind him. Kim Jong-Il was in the process of grooming his son as his successor when he died.
Kim Jong-Un was immediately hailed as "the great successor".
