July 13 (Bloomberg) -- The U.S. told Japan that North Korea had set on standby 200 Nodong medium-range ballistic missiles for launch to strike Japan, the Nihon Keizai newspaper said, citing unnamed Japanese foreign ministry officials.

The U.S. earlier told Japan that North Korea held nuclear warheads small enough to be carried with the missiles, the newspaper said.

North Korea has placed the 200 missiles with a 1,300- kilometer range primarily along the Sea of Japan to make them capable of striking Japan, the report said.

South Korea failed in talks that ended yesterday to persuade North Korea to participate in multilateral talks involving Japan to end a nine-month international row over the North's nuclear development program, obtaining only assurances that it will resolve the matter ``peacefully through dialogue.''

Last Updated: July 12, 2003 20:55 EDT