Japan investigating ISIS video that claims one hostage has been killed

(Image credit: Lintao Zhang/Getty Images)

A new video released by Islamic State militants claims that one of two Japanese hostages being held by the group has been killed. Japanese officials are investigating the validity of the message, and Prime Minister Shinzo Abe reiterated his country's demand for the hostages' "immediate release" on Saturday, The Associated Press reports.

ISIS threatened on Tuesday to behead the hostages unless the group received $200 million in ransom. Japan has not commented on whether it is considering paying the ransom for Kenji Goto, a 47-year-old journalist, and Haruna Yukawa, a 42-year-old adventurer.

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Sarah Eberspacher is an associate editor at TheWeek.com. She has previously worked as a sports reporter at The Livingston County Daily Press & Argus and The Arizona Republic. She graduated from Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism.