UPDATED 7.23PM: Islamic State has claimed the beheading of a second Japanese hostage, drawing international condemnation.

An online video posted by the extremist group apparently depicting the gruesome killing has also outraged a visibly upset Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who denounced it as a "heinous and despicable" act.

The beheading of 47-year-old Kenji Goto is the second of a Japanese hostage in a week.
No mention has been made of the fate of a Jordanian pilot also being held by IS.

Goto, a respected freelance journalist, is seen in an orange outfit - similar to those worn by Guantanamo Bay inmates - kneeling next to a standing masked man who speaks with a British accent and blames the Japanese government for his "slaughter".

The man, dressed head-to-toe in black with his face covered, appears to be the same IS militant who has featured in the group's previous execution videos.

The executioner addresses Abe, saying the murder was the result of "reckless" decisions by the Japanese government and would mark the beginning of "the nightmare for Japan".
The brief video ends with the image of a body dressed in orange with a decapitated head on top of it.

Abe vowed to "never forgive terrorists" after news of the video broke early Sunday in Japan.

"I am extremely angry about these heinous and despicable terrorist acts. We will never forgive terrorists," the prime minister, who appeared on the verge of tears, told reporters.

"We will co-operate with the international community to make them atone for their crimes."

Goto's distraught mother said she "can't find the words" to describe her son's death.
"It's deplorable, but Kenji is gone," a sobbing Junko Ishido told reporters.

"I can't find the words to describe how I feel about my son's very sad death."

US President Barack Obama led international condemnation of the "heinous murder".

"Through his reporting, Mr Goto courageously sought to convey the plight of the Syrian people to the outside world," Obama said.

A spokesman for UN chief Ban Ki-moon also condemned the "barbaric murder", and said the death "underscores the violence that so many have been subjected to in Iraq and Syria".

British Prime Minister David Cameron and French President Francois Hollande also condemned the "brutal murder".

The apparent execution came after Japan said negotiations to win Goto's release in a prisoner exchange had stalled.

IS had vowed to kill Goto and Jordanian pilot Maaz al-Kassasbeh by sunset Thursday unless Amman handed over an Iraqi female jihadist.