Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida, now visiting Ukraine, said Thursday night he has ordered his ministry to verify reports of the crash of a Malaysia Airlines flight in Ukraine.
Speaking to reporters, Kishida said, "I have ordered (the ministry) to confirm the facts," adding that he has also asked the ministry whether any Japanese citizens were onboard.
"At this moment, I have not received any solid information," he said.
The minister has asked the Ukrainian government to provide information and he is also having the Japanese Embassy in the Netherlands check the passenger list. The flight, MH17, was flying from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur.