The terrorist group Islamic State (IS) uploaded a video to social media purporting to show the beheading of Japanese hostage Kenji Goto.  Rather than ending two weeks of drama, the terrorist known as “Jihadi John” then threatens to strike at more Japanese citizens.

“I am extremely angry about these heinous and despicable terrorist acts. We will never forgive terrorists,” Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe told reporters in Tokyo.  “We will cooperate with the international community to make them atone for their crimes.”

IS released the videos two days after the deadline it set by for trading Goto and a Jordanian fighter pilot for a female terrorist on death row in Jordan.  It’s unclear if First Lieutenant Moaz al-Kasasbeh is still alive, and it should be noted that unlike the late Goto, al-Kasasbeh has not been forced to appear in IS propaganda videos.

The video shows Goto dressed in an orange jumpsuit and kneeling next to a black-masked extremist believed to be “Jihadi John”, the terrorist with the London accent who has taunted the west in several previous propaganda videos.  The terrorist blamed the Japanese PM for Kenji Goto’s death.

“Abe, because of your reckless decision to take part in an unwinnable war, this knife will not only slaughter Kenji, but will also carry on and cause carnage wherever your people are found.  So let the nightmare for Japan begin,” Jihado John declared.  He puts the knife to Goto’s neck, and the scene cuts to black.  The next image purports to show Goto’s body with the severed head placed on his back.

In January, Shinzo Abe visited the Middle East handing out US$200 Million to countries battling Islamic State.  Enraged by this, IS then threatened to kill two Japanese hostages it had held for several months unless Abe came up with an equal amount of money for the terrorists.  IS apparently beheaded hostage Haruna Yukawa a week ago.

Abe has been keen on projecting Japanese influence beyond his borders.  He’s been pushing to amend the pacifist, post-war constitution that makes war illegal and severely curtails Japanese military involvement with the adventures of its allies.