TOKYO, Feb. 1 -- A new video message posted online early Sunday (local time) shows that a man believed to be Kenji Goto, a Japanese man taken hostage by the Islamic State(IS) militants was beheaded.

The Japanese government said it is confirming the authenticity of the video image. "I'm outraged by the despicable terrorist act, and I will never forgive terrorists," Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe told reporters at his office after the video was posted online.