Nikkei to four-month low after missile

Japan's Nikkei share average has fallen to a near four-month low as sentiment was soured after North Korea fired a missile over northern Japan earlier in the day.

In early trade on Tuesday, the Nikkei opened down 0.7 per cent and fell as low as 19,304.76, its lowest since May 1.

The broader Topix dropped 0.5 per cent to 1,592.77.

North Korea fired a missile over Japan and into Pacific waters off the northern region of Hokkaido, in a sharp escalation of tensions on the Korean peninsula.