US troops stationed in Okinawa suspend activities for 48 hours... No going out at night for 30 days

U.S. Marine Corps member's robbery and murder of a Japanese woman spreads... “If trust is damaged, there will be security implications.”

(Tokyo = Yonhap News) Correspondent Do-yeon Lee = Amid worsening public opinion following the murder of a local woman by a U.S. soldier in Okinawa, Japan, the U.S. military decided to ban all U.S. troops stationed in Okinawa from going out at night for 30 days.

On the 6th, Lieutenant General Benjamin T. Watson, commander of the U.S. 3rd Marine Expeditionary Force, announced this decision through a notice titled ‘Norms and Disciplines’ through social media.

According to this notice, the US military will suspend activities for 48 hours from noon on the 7th for all US soldiers stationed in Okinawa, will not allow free activities outside the base, and will completely ban drinking alcohol.

In addition, it has been decided to ban going out from midnight to 5 a.m. for 30 days starting on the 9th.

“We live, work, and interact with the people of Okinawa. Every interaction with our neighbors both builds and erodes the trust that is vital to our team,” Watson said in the notice. “When that trust is undermined, it impacts the strength of our alliance and the security of the region.”

Previously, Devin Jacob Ballard (20), a U.S. Marine in Japan assigned to the Futenma Base, was arrested on charges of robbing and murdering a woman in her 30s at a Naha city hotel on the 3rd.

As a result of this incident, antipathy toward the U.S. military is spreading within Okinawa.

On the 5th, the new governor of Okinawa, Goja Kenta, called Commander Watson and others to the prefectural office and protested, saying, "I feel great anger," and "I strongly demand that effective fundamental measures be taken."

On this day, Okinawa Governor Koza is scheduled to meet with Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi, and Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi regarding this incident.