China on Thursday strongly condemned the killing of a Chinese hostage by the Islamic State group, vowing to hold the culprits accountable.

The extremist group said in its latest edition of an English-language magazine that it has killed a Norwegian and a Chinese hostage, who was identified as Fan Jinghui.

Confirming the killing by the jihadists, the Chinese ministry said it "strongly condemns this inhuman action and will definitely hold the perpetrators accountable."

"The Chinese side will continue to enhance counter-terrorism cooperation with the international community and safeguard world peace and tranquility," it said in a statement.

The jihadists' group did not say when the two hostages were killed, but their deaths came after the extremists' attacks killed 129 people in Paris and the bombing of a Russian airliner over Sinai. (Yonhap)