Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi and South Korean President Roh Moo Hyun are expected to agree later this month to have a bilateral history study group discuss the issue of history textbooks in both countries, Kyodo News reported Wednesday.

Responding to a request from South Korea for the textbook issue to be included in the joint study, Koizumi plans to propose the idea when he meets with Roh in Seoul for summit talks being arranged for June 20, Kyodo said.

Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Seiken Sugiura indicated at a press conference Wednesday that Koizumi and Roh will discuss the issue when they talk about the schedule of the joint study group's second round of talks.

Experts from both countries began the first round of discussions from 2002 aimed at promoting mutual understanding and bridging differences in history perception and compiled a report in May. Japan and South Korea agreed in April to set up a second round.

Sugiura, a government spokesman, said South Korea wants the outcome of the joint history research to be reflected in the wording in future Japanese history textbooks and that Japan would take heed of Seoul's wish when discussing details of the envisaged second round of the joint history study.

Many Asian countries including South Korea and China have strongly protested a history textbook approved by the Japanese government which whitewashes Japan's aggressive war against its Asian neighbors. The textbook is for use in junior high schools from the academic year of 2006.

(Xinhua News Agency June 9, 2005)