Japan's Nikkei share average dipped on Tuesday in a choppy trade, with Toray Industries diving after it said a subsidiary had falsified data, while concerns that North Korea might launch more missiles lifted stocks linked to defence.

The Nikkei closed 0.04 per cent lower at 22,486.24, after earlier trading in positive territory.

Toray , a producer of synthetic fibres and textiles, lost 5.3 per cent after it revealed 149 cases of quality data falsification at a materials-making subsidiary.

Producers of defence-related products soared after North Korea was suspected of preparing for another ballistic missile launch.

Howa Machinery Ltd , which makes firearms as well as machine tools and construction equipment, climbed 12.5 per cent, gas mask maker Koken Ltd gained 2.3 per cent, and flare and smoke marker manufacturer Hosoya Pyro-Engineering Co surged 5.3 per cent.

Drug maker Shionogi & Co gained 2.1 per cent with the company set to repurchase up to 4.8 million of its own shares, or 1.5 per cent of outstanding stock.

The broader Topix slipped 0.26 per cent to 1,772.07.

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