Japanese local government OKs restarting first reactors

More than three years after the Fukushima disaster, the final obstacle to restarting two nuclear reactors in Japan was removed Friday when local politicians granted their approval for a plant in the south to go back online.

The green light from the assembly and governor of Kagoshima prefecture marks a victory for Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's government, which has faced significant public opposition to its drive to restart nuclear power.

"I want to inform the economy, trade and industry minister about my understanding of the government's policy to push for restarting nuclear power plants," Governor Yuichiro Ito told a news conference, adding he had considered "various situations comprehensively".