The prefectural government of Okinawa is set to decide on whether to approve ground improvement work at a planned offshore relocation site for a US military base within the prefecture.

The work is part of a land reclamation project off the coast of Henoko in Nago City in Okinawa.

The central government plans to move the US Marine Corps Futenma Air Station from the densely populated city of Ginowan to the offshore site despite opposition from the prefectural government.

But the seabed at the reclamation site was found to be too soft.

The central government then applied for permission from the prefecture to revise the original plan and carry out reinforcement work.

But the prefecture has not approved the revisions, and the work remains on hold.

On Wednesday last week, the Naha branch of the Fukuoka High Court ordered Okinawa to grant approval by the end of Monday.

Senior prefectural government officials held an online meeting on Sunday with experts on administrative law.

Speaking to NHK after the meeting, Professor Tokuda Hiroto of the University of the Ryukyus said there are problems with the court ruling.

He said the court failed to determine the legality of the prefecture's refusal to approve the revisions.

Tokuda said he had informed the officials of his opinion that the prefecture should not approve but appeal to the Supreme Court.

The officials are expected to convey his and others' opinions to Okinawa Governor Tamaki Denny, who has been recuperating from pneumonia.

The officials say the prefecture is considering not approving the revisions.

The governor is expected to make a final decision on Monday.