Okinawa gov't gives order to suspend work for relocation of key US air base

The Okinawa prefectural government ordered the suspension of underwater work on Monday in a coastal area in Nago where a key US air base is to be relocated, according to local report.

Okinawa Governor Takeshi Onaga told reporters that if the Okinawa Defense Bureau did not follow the order, the Okinawa government would revoke its permit for rock drilling at the site.

The order came after the prefectural government found last month that the defense bureau's drilling survey had damaged coral reefs with a concrete block, Kyodo News said.