US Secretary of State Speaks with Japanese Foreign Minister, Promises Cooperation in Investigation of US Soldier's Murder of Japanese Woman

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio held a telephone conversation with Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi on the 10th (local time) and promised cooperation in the investigation into the murder of a local woman by a US service member in Okinawa, Japan.

During the call, Secretary Rubio "reaffirmed the strength of the US-Japan alliance, which serves as the cornerstone of peace, security, and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region and beyond," according to the State Department.

The State Department also stated that "Secretary Rubio expressed sincere condolences over the death of the Japanese national in Okinawa and conveyed the US commitment to strengthening communication between the two countries and fully cooperating with the Japanese government and local authorities as the investigation proceeds."

This is seen as a measure taken in response to growing anti-US military sentiment in Okinawa following the arrest on the 3rd of Jacob Ballard, a US Marine stationed at Marine Corps Air Station Futenma, on charges of murdering a Japanese woman in her 30s.

In addition, the State Department noted that Secretary Rubio emphasized the justification for the ICC sanctions imposed in response to unjustified actions by the International Criminal Court (ICC) that threaten US sovereignty.

The US announced high-intensity sanctions against the ICC on the 9th, immediately after the Norwegian Nobel Committee announced Navanethem Pillay, a former ICC judge and ad hoc judge at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), as this year's Nobel Peace Prize laureate, and requested cooperation from allies.

However, regarding the US sanctions against the ICC, Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi pushed back, stating, "Japan consistently values the rule of law in the international community and supports the ICC in fulfilling its role."

Tomoko Akane, a Japanese national, currently serves as the President of the ICC, and Prime Minister Takaichi previously expressed that she "regrets it deeply" when ICC President Akane was placed on the US sanctions list last August.

(Photo: AP, Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.