TOKYO, October 4. /TASS/. Police in Japan’s southern prefecture of Okinawa have arrested a 20-year-old US Marine on suspicion of robbing and murdering a local woman, Japanese public broadcaster NHK reported.

The serviceman is assigned to the US Marine Corps Air Station Futenma on Okinawa. According to police, the body of a 39-year-old local woman was found in a room at a local hotel. Surveillance footage shows the suspect and the victim entering the room together, with the serviceman leaving alone some time later. The victim’s personal belongings were also reported missing. Police are continuing to investigate the circumstances of the incident.

Japan also lodged a strong protest with the US military command over the incident, Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi told reporters. "This is absolutely outrageous and unforgivable, and we are deeply angered," Kyodo quoted him as saying.

Okinawa, the southernmost of Japan’s major islands, hosts more than 70% of the total area occupied by US military facilities in the country, including Kadena Air Base, the largest US Air Force base outside the United States. US servicemen periodically commit crimes there, including sexual offenses, fueling strong resentment among local residents.