Prime Minister Naoto Kan, faced with strong opposition in Okinawa, hinted Monday it will be months before he finalizes a plan for relocating the Futenma air base.
During his first full Diet debate since taking office in June, Kan said relocating the U.S. base is one of the major issues facing his Cabinet.
But he also said, "Including securing understanding from Okinawa, I recognize that several more processes will be needed," suggesting that a comprehensive plan for the relocation won't be worked out before the Okinawa gubernatorial election Nov. 28.