It was the first conversation between Hagel and Defense Minister Gen Nakatani, Defense Department officials said in a statement summarizing the phone call.

“Secretary Hagel told Minister Nakatani that we stand in solidarity with Japan regarding the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant's threat to murder two Japanese hostages, and pledged to continue to coordinate closely,” the statement said.

Both leaders agreed to intensify work to revise the guidelines for U.S.-Japan defense cooperation, reaffirmed their commitment to complete construction of the Futenma Replacement Facility and praised the bilateral cooperation that led to the deployment of a second missile defense radar to Japan last month, officials said.