Prime Minister Shinzo Abe shows remorse as he speaks to reporters on Jan. 25 after a video message was released claiming that one of the Japanese hostages had been executed. (Asahi Shimbun file photo)
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[PR]
When Prime Minister Shinzo Abe pledged $200 million (23.6 billion yen) in nonmilitary aid for countries fighting the Islamic State in mid-January, the government likely knew the extremist group was holding a Japanese journalist hostage.