South Korean stocks traded 0.88 percent lower late Thursday morning due to a Chinese stock market crash coupled with new North Korean risks.

The local currency was trading at 1,201.70 won against the U.S. dollar as of 11:20 a.m., down 3.80 won from the previous session's close.

The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) lost 16.92 points to 1,908.51 as of 11:20 a.m.

Shares lost ground across the board, with Samsung Electronics plunging 1.02 percent and No. 1 carmaker Hyundai Motor losing 1.43 percent. SK Hynix moved down 1.46 percent.

Trading on China's stock market was suspended completely after share prices plunged more than 7 percent on Thursday morning. It marked the second suspension this week.

North Korea announced Wednesday it had succeeded in conducting a hydrogen bomb test, hours after what seems to be an artificial earthquake was detected close to the North's nuclear test site. (Yonhap)