Japan's defense military plans to set up missile defense systems at four of its bases by 2010, including Patriot Advanced Capability 3 (PAC-3) systems at its base, northwest of Tokyo, by the end of March 2007.

But the United States sees the need for another PAC-3 base in the greater Tokyo area because of the mounting tension over North Korea's nuclear programs, the Nihon Keizai Shimbun said.

The United States unofficially informed the Japanese government that it was considering deploying the PAC-3 surface-to-air missiles at its bases, such as Yokota Air Base in western Tokyo and Yokosuka Naval Base in Kanagawa prefecture, south of Tokyo, the newspaper said citing unnamed government sources.

Defense agency officials could not be immediately reached for comment.

Washington protects Japan by treaty as the country was stripped of its right to maintain an armed forces after defeat in World War II.

Japan and the United States started working in earnest on a missile shield after North Korea in 1998 fired a missile over Japan's main island.

The United States stationed its first Patriot missiles in Japan after North Korea in July test-fired seven missiles in Japan's direction.

It is believed that Pyongyang's test of the long-range Taepodong-2 ballistic missile in July was a failure.

But both the Japanese and US governments believe North Korea's intermediate-range Nodong ballistic missile poses a credible threat to Japan.

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