{Economic Information Agency, May 5} On Sunday (4th), police in Okinawa Prefecture, Japan, arrested a U.S. military soldier stationed in Okinawa, suspected of robbing and murdering a local woman at a hotel in the early hours of last Saturday (3rd). Japanese Prime Minister Takayama Sanae posted on social media the same day, stating that such a cruel and heinous crime is deeply regrettable.
Foreign Minister Motegi Toshimitsu summoned U.S. Ambassador to Japan, Graves, at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to lodge a strong protest, demanding the U.S. military rectify military discipline and thoroughly prevent similar incidents from happening again. Foreign Affairs Secretary Ken'yu Funakoshi also called Graves to protest.
Graves responded that he would "fully cooperate with the investigation and take all possible measures to prevent recurrence."
Japanese Defense Minister Koizumi Shinjiro, while visiting Yokosuka City, Kanagawa Prefecture, criticized the incident as "absurd, intolerable, and evoking strong indignation." Later, at the Ministry of Defense, he summoned U.S. Army Japan Commander Jost, stating that the incident is extremely serious. (rc)
Foreign Minister Motegi Toshimitsu summoned U.S. Ambassador to Japan, Graves, at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to lodge a strong protest, demanding the U.S. military rectify military discipline and thoroughly prevent similar incidents from happening again. Foreign Affairs Secretary Ken'yu Funakoshi also called Graves to protest.
Graves responded that he would "fully cooperate with the investigation and take all possible measures to prevent recurrence."
Japanese Defense Minister Koizumi Shinjiro, while visiting Yokosuka City, Kanagawa Prefecture, criticized the incident as "absurd, intolerable, and evoking strong indignation." Later, at the Ministry of Defense, he summoned U.S. Army Japan Commander Jost, stating that the incident is extremely serious. (rc)
