The Okinawa prefecture of Japan demanded Tuesday the U.S. military based there suspend F-15 fighter jet drills before the cause of a crash accident occurring earlier in the day is determined.

However, the U.S. side expressed no intention to do so at a meeting between the Okinawa government official and U.S. Army Col. Mark Franklin, who heads the Okinawa Area Field Office of U.S. Forces in Japan, Kyodo News said.

A U.S. F-15 fighter jet, belonging to U.S. Kadena Air Base in Okinawa, crashed into the sea near Ikeijima island in eastern Okinawa on Tuesday morning. The pilot ejected and was safely rescued an hour later.

According to Kyodo, Franklin apologized for the accident but refused for the U.S. military to meet the demand of suspending F- 15 air drills. He was quoted as saying that continuous drills are necessary to ensure safety.

"People in Okinawa will naturally take a harder position than in the past" on issues related to realignment of U.S. forces in Japan, Okinawa governor Keiichi Inamine told reporters.

In Tokyo, Chief Cabinet Secretary Shinzo Abe said, "Okinawa residents are very sensitive about moves and safety issues involving the U.S. military. We want to take firm measures to prevent further accidents."

Okinawa, about 1,000 km south of Tokyo, holds the bulk of U.S. military facilities in Japan. Residents there have long complained of crime, noise and crowding associated with the U.S. military presence.

Source: Xinhua