TOKYO: Japan said Thursday it was investigating the reported kidnapping of a Japanese journalist in Syria by an armed group, after two of its citizens were beheaded earlier this year.

Media rights group Reporters Without Borders said Jumpei Yasuda, a freelance journalist, was kidnapped in July as he was crossing the border into the country and is still being held hostage by the group, which was not named.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga declined to directly confirm the report when asked about it at a regular media briefing, but stressed the government was obligated to ensure the safety of Japanese citizens.

“We are doing our best... and making full use of various intelligence networks,” he added, without elaborating.

Earlier this month, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe set up a new unit to collect and analyze information on global terrorism concentrating on four areas, including the Middle East.

Reporters Without Borders said Tuesday that the armed group had started a countdown for the payment of a ransom, “failing which they are threatening to execute him or sell him to another terrorist group.”