aespa's third member, Ningning, is introduced by SM

Ningning [SM ENTERTAINMENT]

The third member of SM Entertainment’s new girl group, aespa, was disclosed on Thursday.

She is Ningning, an 18-year-old Chinese with exceptional vocal skills, according to the agency.

SM Entertainment began promoting the group on Monday by releasing its logo, and then began a slow reveal of the talent it has recruited. On Tuesday, it introduced the first member, Winter, followed by the second member, Karina, on Wednesday. The agency did not reveal how many girls will be in the group.

Except for their stage names, ages and nationalities, other information about the members have yet to be disclosed to the public.

Another point of interest is the possibility of virtual artists in the group. In a YouTube video released Wednesday called “My, Karina,” Karina interacted with a violet-colored avatar, “ae-Karina.”

The group’s name “aespa” is a mashup of the term “Avatar X Experience” and the word “aspect.”

“The members will experience a new world through their other egos, [their] avatars,” the agency explained.

aespa will be the first new group from SM in four years. It debuted boy band NCT in 2016. The group is expected to debut next month.

BY LEE JAE-LIM [lee.jaelim@joongang.co.kr]