Tokyo stocks open lower amid North Korea jitters

Tokyo stocks opened slightly lower Tuesday as a stronger yen and worries over a possible North Korea missile launch weighed on the market.

The benchmark Nikkei 225 index slipped 0.11 percent or 22.43 points, to 20,668.28 in early trade while the broader Topix index was down 0.18 percent, or 2.98 points, at 1,684.18.

As Tuesday marks the commemoration of the founding of North Korea's labour party, traders "should be vigilant for possible provocative actions," Okasan Online Securities said in a commentary.

However, investors were expected to focus on individual stocks ahead of earnings reports season later this month, added Okasan.

Shares in Kobe Steel were expected to fall dramatically following its weekend announcement it had systematically fabricated inspection data for aluminium and copper products.

A price for the stock was not immediately available as sell orders overwhelmed buy orders but its rival JFE Holdings was down 1.02 percent at 2,231 yen.

The dollar was quoted at 112.67 yen in Asian trade, against 112.65 yen in New York late Monday and 113.04 yen in Tokyo Friday afternoon.

But automakers eked out gains despite the slightly stronger yen, with Toyota rising 1.09 percent to 6,964 yen and Honda up 0.12 percent to 3,399.

Some financials were hit by profit-taking, with Mitsubishi UFJ losing 1.59 percent at 723.1 yen