Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe yesterday called the killing of a Japanese captive by Islamic State militants “outrageous” and again demanded the group release a second Japanese national they are holding.

Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe (right) speaks to the media at his official residence in Tokyo, yesterday. Photo: Reuters

Abe, speaking to public broadcaster NHK, said chances were high that a recording and an image of what appeared to be the decapitated body of captive Haruna Yukawa, which emerged late on Saturday, were authentic.

The Japanese leader called for the immediate release of the remaining Japanese captive, veteran war correspondent Kenji Goto, and said saving Goto’s life was a top priority.

But he reiterated that Japan would not give in to terrorism.

“Such an act of terrorism is outrageous and impermissible, which causes me nothing but strong indignation,” Abe said.

“Again, I strongly demand that Goto not be harmed and be immediately released.”

Militants would free him for the release of Iraqi held in Jordan

The escalation of the hostage crisis has become a test for Abe, who took power in 2012 pledging to bolster Japan’s global security role.

On Tuesday, Islamic State militants released a video showing Goto and Yukawa kneeling with a knife-wielding, masked man demanding a $200 million ransom for their release. A 72-hour deadline for that payment expired on Friday.

In the latest recording, Goto says Yukawa was “slaughtered in the land of the Islamic Caliphate”. But the journalist said the Japanese government could save him by working through Jordan where Abe earlier this week set up an office to coordinate the government’s response to the hostage situation.

Goto says the militants would free him in exchange for the release of Sajida al-Rishawi, an Iraqi held in Jordan, and that the militants have dropped the ransom demand.

“I am filled with disappointment, that it has finally come to this,” Yukawa’s father, Shoichi, told NHK.

“I feel pained, that Goto risked his life out of concern and ended up being captured.

“I hope he can be released as soon as possible, and return to Japan to continue his activities.”

Goto’s mother, Junko Ishido, told NHK: “First of all I wish it weren’t true, that it’s some mistake. I’m a mother so it’s unbearable. What I want to tell Islamic State is that Kenji’s ideal is world peace.” She was later quoted by Kyodo news agency as doubting her son would seek a prisoner exchange.

More than 100 people congregated at Tokyo’s Denenchofu Protestant evangelical church, where Goto was baptised in 1997 and where he prayed just days after Yukawa was captured in August.

Three policemen stood guard outside the church.

“Please have Kenji Goto and Haruna Yukawa in your thoughts as we go through today’s prayers,” Pastor Shun Takatsu said.

Abe told NHK he had spoken to Jordan’s King Abdullah about the situation, but he had no comment on the Islamic State demand for the release of al-Rishawi.