PM Shinzo Abe condemns Islamic State ransom demands for Japanese hostages

TOKYO, Jan. 20 (UPI) -- The Islamic State has demanded a $200 million ransom to be paid by Japan or it will execute two Japanese hostages.

The ransom video was posted Tuesday on social media. Japan's foreign ministry was in the process of authenticating the video.

In the video, a masked man standing between two men in orange jumpsuits directly addresses Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and criticizes the prime minister's decision to support the U.S.-led coalition against the Islamic State.

He said Japan has pledged millions "to kill our women and children, to destroy the homes of the Muslims" and demanded $100 million for each hostage.

The man also addressed the Japanese public and said the Japanese government made a "foolish decision" to become involved in the fight against IS. He said the public had 72 hours to urge the government to make the "wise decision" to pay the ransom.

The hostages are named as Kenji Goto Jogo and Haruna Yukawa in the video.

Goto is a freelance journalist who reported on the conflict in the city of Kobane, Syria, and other areas in the region.

Yukawa, 42, is reported to have been captured in Syria while traveling with rebel fighters in August.

Abe was in Jerusalem at the time of the ransom video's release and said the IS's actions are "unforgivable."

"Extremism and Islam are completely different things," he said during a press conference. "The international community will not give in to any form of terrorism, and we have to make sure that we work together."

On Saturday, Abe pledged $2.5 billion in non-military aid to Middle East countries, with $200 million in non-military aid to countries battling the IS. The video is a response to that pledge.