The United States is demanding that major repair work planned at the Futenma air base in Okinawa be included in an interim report due by the end of April, sources close to bilateral ties said Saturday.

However, Tokyo so far has resisted the request, arguing such a move would risk creating the impression that the controversial base — whose planned relocation has been stalled for years by local opposition — may remain indefinitely at its current location in Ginowan, the sources said.

Senior U.S officials made the demand during a bilateral meeting with their Foreign and Defense ministry counterparts last Monday and Tuesday in Washington, where they discussed the realignment of American forces in Japan, according to the sources.