Japanese shares led Asian stocks higher after a contender for Bank of Japan governor said extra monetary easing can be justified this year. South Korea’s Kospi Index reversed gains as North Korea conducted a nuclear test.

Nikkei 225 11,369.12 +215.96 +1.94%

Hang Seng Closed

S&P/ASX 200 4,958.99 -0.52 -0.01%

Shanghai Composite Closed

Canon Inc., Japan’s largest camera maker that gets 80 percent of sales abroad, gained 2.2 percent as the yen touched the lowest level since May 2010.

Dentsu Inc. soared 10 percent as nine-month operating profit climbed 24 percent.