The government may delay finalizing details of the planned relocation of the Futenma air base within Okinawa, Defense Minister Toshimi Kitazawa indicated Tuesday in reference to the original deadline of August.

Kitazawa, speaking to reporters after a Cabinet meeting, said the government must pay attention to the result of the Okinawa gubernatorial election in November.

"We must place importance" on the election to choose the governor, "who has the heaviest responsibility for Okinawa," he said.