Thailand extends condolences to Japan on killed journalist

BANGKOK, February 2 (TNA) - Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-ocha has sent a letter to his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe, expressing his condolences, on behalf of the Thai government and people, over Sunday's killing of a 47-year-old Japanese independent journalist, Kenji Goto. Thai Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister General Tanasak Patimapragorn has also sent a similar condolence message to Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida. According to Thai Foreign Ministry Spokesman Sek Wannamethee, who is also Director-General of the ministry's Department of Information, both of the official letters, sent by the Thai government, conveyed words of encouragement to the Japanese government and people, especially the family of the deceased. International media reports said on February 1 that Goto was beheaded after having been taken hostage for days. Earlier, another Japanese hostage, private security consultant Haruna Yukawa, was also reportedly killed in the same fate. (TNA)