The foreign affairs committee of Japan’s Lower House has approved a South Korea-Japan agreement that would return ancient Korean royal books to South Korea.

A plenary session of the Lower House will vote on the accord on Thursday.

If the accord is passed at the plenary session, Tokyo is expected to return the books to South Korea by the end of next month.

The 1,205 books include “Joseon Wangsil Uigwe”, a record of royal ceremonies and rituals.

The Joseon Dynasty documents, plundered during Japan’s occupation of Korea during the first half of the 20th century, are currently being held by the Japanese Imperial Household Agency.