The national and Okinawa Prefectural Government failed again Saturday to narrow the gap in their positions over the planned relocation of a U.S. military base within the prefecture.
Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga told reporters after the fourth round of "intensive consultations" with the Okinawa government that the two sides "are in agreement on the need to remove the danger of the base, but remain considerably apart on how to realize it."
Suga indicated it is unlikely the talks will be extended beyond Sept. 9.