Tokyo  - The Tokyo market opened higher Monday as investors bought mostly export-oriented issues on a weaker yen, despite a rocket launched by North Korea the previous day.

The benchmark Nikkei 225 Stock Average index advanced 200.1 points, or 2.29 per cent, to 8,949.94.

The broader Topix index of all first-section issues was up 12.49 points, or 1.5 per cent, to 843.85.

Tokyo investors shrugged off what North Korea claimed was a satellite launch Sunday and bought a wide range of issues, especially export-related shares, as a weaker yen helps boost earnings of Japanese firms.

The United States, Japan and South Korea suspect the launch was a claim to cover the testing of a long-range ballistic missile.

On currency markets at 9 am (0000 GMT), the dollar traded at 100.55-60 yen, up from Friday's 5 pm quote of 99.78-79 yen.

The euro traded at 1.3540-45 dollars, up from late Friday's quote of 1.3430-31 dollars, and at 136.17-22 yen, up from 134.01-05 yen. dpa