-- South Korean shares opened at a new high on Monday as investor tensions appeared to ease after US President Donald Trump said Sunday that the US would help countries with ships stranded in the Strait of Hormuz, naming it Project Freedom.
The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index, or Kospi, rose by 184.06 points to open at 6,782.93. The Kosdaq marginally gained to open at 1,212.28.
The blockade of Iranian ports continues and does not represent a continuation of the US-Iran conflict, Trump said.
The US military support under Project Freedom will comprise guided-missile destroyers, over 100 land and sea-based aircraft, multi-domain unmanned platforms, and 15,000 service members.
However, the naval mission is being seen as a violation of the ceasefire by Iran, top Iranian lawmaker Ebrahim Azizi said.