Discussions for the return of a stone pagoda that was allegedly stolen by Japan in the early 20th century have opened up.

The Okura Shukokan Museum of Fine Arts in Tokyo currently holds the pagoda, which is known to have been partially damaged during the massive March earthquake in eastern Japan.

The city of Icheon in Gyeonggi Province near Seoul has consistently demanded that Japan return the five-story Goryeo Dynasty artifact.

The Icheon city government said that the museum said it is willing to return the pagoda as part of an exchange of cultural artifacts if there are formal bilateral discussions between South Korea and Japan.

The pagoda was stolen in 1915 by a Japanese businessman, Okura Kihachiro, who founded the museum. The Japanese colonial government moved the artifact and put it on display at Gyeongbok Palace in Seoul for an industrial exhibition in 1915.