Obama offers condolences to Japan over hostage death

President Obama called Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Sunday to offer condolences for the killing of a Japanese citizen by the Islamic State, the White House said.

The president, who made the call during his trip to India, expressed "solidarity with the Japanese people," said a White House statement.

Obama "also expressed appreciation for Japan's significant contributions of humanitarian assistance to the Middle East region," the White House said. "The two leaders agreed to continue their cooperation on a range of regional and global issues."

From the Associated Press:

"In an earlier statement, Obama condemned the "brutal murder" of Japanese citizen Haruna Yukawa. Obama's statement didn't say how the U.S. knew Yukawa was dead. The Japanese government is reviewing an online video that purports to show his death ...

"Obama also called for the immediate release of a second Japanese hostage being held by the militants."