Nikkei opens down 0.9%, Kospi up 0.7%

The split between Japan and South Korea at the open points to diverging local drivers rather than a uniform regional risk tone. A weaker Nikkei may reflect domestic headwinds or positioning, while the Kospi's gain suggests separate catalysts supporting Korean equities. The question is whether this gap is a one-off reaction or signals a broader decoupling in Asian market sentiment. Watching how these indices trade through the session, and whether the divergence persists, will clarify if global cues are being filtered differently by each market.