Seoul:<Text>

South Korean stocks opened slightly lower on Friday, pulling back from a recent rally as ongoing tensions in the Middle East influenced investor sentiment. The Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) decreased by 7.21 points, or 0.11 percent, reaching 6,468.60 within the first 15 minutes of trading.

According to Yonhap News Agency, the dip followed a downward trend on Wall Street, where the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell by 0.36 percent and the Nasdaq Composite dropped by 0.89 percent. Investors exhibited caution as peace negotiations between the United States and Iran showed minimal progress. On Thursday, U.S. President Donald Trump announced directives for the U.S. Navy to target vessels laying mines in strategic waterways, while Iran reportedly reactivated its air defense systems.

Despite these developments, there remains hope among investors for a potential second round of peace talks that could alleviate Middle East tensions and remove obstacles in the vital Strait of Hormuz shipping route. Trump also mentioned an extension of the ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon, which could aid in resolving the broader U.S.-Iran conflict.

The tech and auto sectors were among the hardest hit, with Samsung Electronics dropping 2 percent and SK hynix declining by 0.08 percent. Hyundai Motor experienced a 3.2 percent decrease, and Kia fell by 2.21 percent. Korean Air saw a 0.6 percent reduction, and Korea Aerospace Industries, the nation's sole aircraft manufacturer, plummeted by 7.23 percent.

Conversely, some defense sector companies saw gains, with Hanwha Aerospace Industries rising by 5.26 percent and LIG Defense and Aerospace increasing by 4.66 percent. Meanwhile, the local currency traded at 1,482.40 won against the U.S. dollar, a decline of 1.4 won from the previous session.