As a condition for the return, US officials have asked for a solution to the long-running dispute over the relocation of the US Marine Corps at Futenma Air Station, also in Okinawa, the Yomiuri Shimbun newspaper said.

To ensure the early return of the two facilities, the Japanese government has begun studying the costs of relocating the Marine headquarters from Okinawa to Guam, it said.

The United States has also asked Japan to pay for part of the costs related to the planned changes, the Yomiuri said.

Naha port is in the west of the Okinawa prefectural capital and is used for unloading and storing military supplies. The Makiminato base is used for storing supplies.

Both facilities are seen as important logistical bases in the event of war, the Yomiuri said.

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