"I suspect it might have been linked to an assassination attempt disguised as a traffic accident"

Park Kun-Ha, secretary general of NK Intellectuals Solidarity, a North Korean defector group, said it was “very rare” for such a prestigious award to be handed out to a low-level functionary.

“I suspect it might have been linked to an assassination attempt disguised as a traffic accident,” Park told AFP.

Speculation that Kim Jong-un was involved in some way was fuelled by hints in state media reports that followed the initial KCNA announcement.

“Comrade Ri’s action was not made possible by pure accident, but made possible because she had always harboured this longing for the respected leader day and night,” her superior officer told state TV in an interview.