The government approved emergency plans Friday for 21 prefectures to protect the public in the event of an attack.

The move stems from a set of 10 laws enacted in 2003 and 2004. They are the first pieces of postwar legislation to address measures that can be taken in the event of a national emergency.

The are now 23 prefectures with emergency plans. Fukui and Tottori finalized their plans last year. The rest of the prefectural governments have until the end of March to submit their plans.