Seoul:<Text>

South Korean stocks opened higher Friday, bucking overnight losses on Wall Street, as the United States announced a three-week ceasefire extension for Iran and Lebanon. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) opened at 6,496.10, up 20.29 points, or 0.31 percent.

According to Yonhap News Agency, overnight trading in the United States saw the Dow Jones Industrial Average fall 0.36 percent, with the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite declining 0.89 percent. On Thursday, U.S. President Donald Trump announced that he had ordered the U.S. Navy to target any vessels laying mines in the strait, indicating that Iran is seeking a deal and that talks are under way.

Trump further stated that Israel and Lebanon agreed to extend their ceasefire by three weeks. This development is seen as easing a potential obstacle to efforts aimed at resolving the conflict involving the U.S. and Iran.

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