Tokyo stocks opened slightly higher Friday as the Dow Jones Industrial Average ending at record high overnight set a positive tone here.

Gains were capped, however, by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea's (DPRK) launching of a missile over Japan before markets opened here.

As of 9:15 a.m., the 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average edged up 21.99 points, or 0.11 percent, from Thursday to 19,829.43.

The broader Topix index of all First Section issues on the Tokyo Stock Exchange, meanwhile, inched 0.69 point, or 0.04 percent higher, to 1,632.82.

Mining, pharmaceutical and marine transportation-linked issues comprised those that gained the most in the opening minutes after the morning bell.