TOKYO — The Japanese and U.S. governments have agreed in principle to move the headquarters of the U.S. Marine Corps' III Marine Expeditionary Force — now located at Camp Courtney in Okinawa Prefecture — to Guam and to cut the number of Marines in the prefecture by several thousand as part of measures to reduce the burden of U.S. forces in the prefecture, sources said.

The two governments also are considering moving some exercises conducted by F-15 fighters based at Kadena Air Base to Air Self-Defense Force bases outside the prefecture.

The two governments are considering other measures to ease the burden on local people, according to their interim report on realignment of U.S. forces stationed in Japan.

They hope to complete the interim report by the end of this month. But if negotiations over the relocation of Futenma Air Station drag on, the report could be delayed, the sources said.

According to the sources, the III MEF command will be moved on the condition that Japan shoulders the costs of constructing housing and other facilities in Guam for the command and more than 4,000 Marines and other people now stationed at Camp Courtney in Uruma, in Okinawa Prefecture.

According to the sources, the two sides are discussing a reduction of the number of Marines stationed in Okinawa from their current strength of about 18,000 by between 3,000 and 5,000.

The reduction "will be a significant and tangible measure," a government source said.

By holding exercises of Kadena's F-15 fighter jets at ASDF bases outside Okinawa Prefecture, the number of F-15 takeoffs and landings at Kadena, estimated at about 75,000 a year, could be cut by several thousand, the sources said, and noise pollution around the base would be reduced.

The Nyutabaru Air Base in Miyazaki Prefecture, Tsuiki Air Base in Fukuoka Prefecture and Chitose Air Base in Hokkaido have emerged as possible sites to host F-15 practice flights. Exercises at these ASDF bases would be conducted jointly with the ASDF.

In another measure aimed at reducing the burden on Okinawa residents, the two governments are discussing moving 12 KC-130 in-flight refueling tankers stationed at the Futenma Air Station to the Maritime Self-Defense Force's Kanoya Air Base in Kagoshima Prefecture.

The two governments also agreed in principle to have the Nyutabaru and Tsuiki air bases take over the function of Futenma's main runway, the sources said.

The Japanese and U.S. governments plan to hold high-level talks this week on the relocation of the Futenma Air Station. Richard Lawless, U.S. deputy undersecretary of defense, will be in Tokyo to discuss the moves with Japanese officials.