SEOUL, Aug. 12 (Yonhap) -- South Korean shares opened higher Wednesday, led by gains in major technology stocks, despite overnight losses on Wall Street as optimism over a potential U.S.-Iran peace deal faded.

The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) opened 92.97 points, or 1.47 percent, higher at 6,438.50.

Investors became more pessimistic about the prospects for a deal that could bring stability to the Middle East after the newly appointed secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council said the Strait of Hormuz will remain closed as long as Washington does not change its behavior and accept Tehran's conditions for ending the war.

Overnight, the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 0.34 percent, while the S&P 500 declined 0.32 percent to 7,728.2. The Nasdaq composite shed 0.60 percent.

khj@yna.co.kr

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