In brief
In Okinawa, a second U.S. Marine was arrested for DUI during curfew hours that were put in place after the murder of a local woman by a U.S. Marine. Japan’s defense minister Shinjiro Koizumi called on Washington to enforce stricter discipline and ensure the curfew is strictly observed. Tokyo added that preventive measures are being discussed in bilateral high‑level consultations.
Japan on Monday urged the United States to enforce stricter discipline after a U.S. Marine was arrested in Okinawa for driving under the influence during a curfew that had been imposed following the murder of a local woman by a former U.S. Marine.
The incident came after the curfew – from midnight to 5 a.m. – was introduced on Oct. 9 in response to the arrest of Devin Ballard, who was later indicted for robbing and murdering a woman in Naha, the capital of the southern island prefecture.
Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi said the U.S. side must "take seriously" the fact that a Marine was arrested during the curfew period and that "effective preventive measures" should be put into practice promptly, saying the measures would be announced and implemented "as early as possible."
Arrested Saturday by local police, the Marine—identified only as Kalvin Montoya Cardona—was caught with a blood‑alcohol content twice the legal limit at about 12:25 a.m. in the city of Okinawa, underscoring concerns over command discipline.
Kyodo News reported that Tokyo is engaging the U.S. side in bilateral high‑level consultations to discuss preventive measures following Ballard’s case and to ensure the curfew is strictly implemented.
