South Korean shares opened higher Monday as some investors returned to the market amid escalating geopolitical tension between the United States and North Korea.

The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index rose 12.54 points, or 0.54 percent, to 2,332.25 in the first 15 minutes of trading.


Most large caps traded mixed with market kingpin Samsung Electronics gaining 1.43 percent.

Top automaker Hyundai Motor climbed 0.7 percent and top steelmaker POSCO rose 1.42 percent.

The local currency was trading at 1,138.05 won against the US dollar, up 5.45 won from the previous session's close. (Yonhap)