TOKYO, Nov. 2 (Xinhua) -- Japan has urged the United States to strengthen discipline among its military personnel after a U.S. Marine in Okinawa Prefecture was arrested for allegedly driving under the influence of alcohol during curfew hours, Kyodo News reported Monday.
Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi said Monday that he wants the U.S. side to "take seriously" the fact that the incident occurred despite a curfew imposed on U.S. military personnel on Okinawa from Oct. 9 following a murder case involving another Marine.
The U.S. Marine was arrested on Saturday after his blood alcohol level was found to be more than twice the legal limit. He was driving in the city of Okinawa at around 12:25 a.m. local time, during the curfew hours, the report said.
On Oct. 4, Okinawa prefectural police arrested Devin Ballard, a 20-year-old U.S. Marine, on suspicion of robbing and murdering a local woman at a hotel in Naha, the prefectural capital. He was subsequently indicted on robbery and murder charges.
Koizumi said Japan had also urged the U.S. side to take "effective preventive" measures and ensure strict enforcement of the curfew, which requires military personnel to remain at their residences between midnight and 5 a.m. during a 30-day "period of reflection."
He added that bilateral high-level consultations were underway to discuss preventive measures following the case involving Ballard.
"We want to reach conclusions as early as possible, announce the measures and put them into practice," Koizumi said. ■
