DHAKA: The Islamic State group has issued a video purporting to show a militant threatening to kill two Japanese hostages unless Japan pays a ransom.

In the video, a masked man criticizes Japan for pledging aid to countries fighting Islamic State (IS).

He says he will kill the two men unless a $200m ransom is paid within 72 hours, reports the BBC.

Japan’s foreign ministry said it was verifying the video, and that, if true, such a threat was ‘unforgiveable’.

Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe is currently in Jerusalem as part of a six-day tour of the Middle East.

However, Kyodo news agency is reporting that he will cancel part of his trip to deal with the hostage crisis.

In a press conference in Jerusalem, Abe said he was ‘indignant’ and felt ‘strong resentment’ at the threats, and demanded the immediate release of the hostages.

He added that Japan’s pledges of non-military support to countries in the Middle East would continue.

BDST: 1427 HRS, JAN 20, 2015