Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi and South Korean President Roh Moo Hyun may agree later this month to have a joint history study group discuss history textbooks in both nations, Japanese government sources said Wednesday.
Seoul has requested the textbook issue be included in the joint group's agenda, and Koizumi is expected to bring up the topic when he meets with Roh in Seoul for a June 20 summit, the sources said.
Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Seiken Sugiura said at a news conference Wednesday that Koizumi and Roh will discuss the issue when they talk about scheduling the study group's second round of talks.