An online video purports to show the Islamic State group threatening to kill two Japanese hostages unless it is paid a $200 million ransom in 72 hours.

AN ONLINE video purports to show the Islamic State group threatening to kill two Japanese hostages unless it is paid a $200 million ransom in 72 hours.

The video was released online this afternoon. Militant websites affiliated with the Islamic State group posted it.

The video shows two hostages the militants identify as Kenji Goto Jogo and Haruna Yukawa. Japanese officials had no immediate comment on the video.

This is the first time the Islamic State group has threatened the Japanese. It has beheaded other Western hostages it has held.

Islamic State militant to #Japan: Pay $200 million to save these 2 men or "this knife will become your nightmare" pic.twitter.com/XTkvt73aXh — Zaid Benjamin (@zaidbenjamin) January 20, 2015

The Islamic State group currently holds a third of both Iraq and Syria. A US-led coalition is now targeting the extremists in airstrikes.