The Japanese government said Tuesday it will not give in to "terrorism" after a video emerged in which Islamic militants threatened to kill two Japanese unless a $200 million ransom was paid.
"Our country's stance -- contributing to the fight against terrorism without giving in -- remains unchanged," chief government spokesman Yoshihide Suga told a news conference in Tokyo.
In the footage, a black-clad militant brandishing a knife addresses the camera in English, standing between two hostages wearing orange jumpsuits.
"You now have 72 hours to pressure your government into making a wise decision by paying the $200 million to save the lives of your citizens," he says.
The militant says that the ransom demand was to compensate for non-military aid that Prime Minister Shinzo Abe pledged to support the campaign against IS during an ongoing Middle East tour that on Tuesday saw him in Jerusalem.
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who is on a tour of the Middle East and is expected to address the press around 0800 GMT, will cancel part of his visit, Suga said, although a summit with Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas would go ahead.
Source: AFP