Japanese Deputy Foreign Minister Mitoji Yabunaka, who is in Rangoon to probe the death of a Japanese photo journalist, will hold talks with Burmese junta, Japanese Foreign Ministry said.

Yabunaka left for Burma on Sunday to investigate the death of Kenji Nagai, a photo journalist who was shot dead on Thursday during a crackdown on protesters by security forces in downtown Rangoon.

“We are not sure of his schedule but he will meet Burmese officials,” an official at the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs told Mizzima.

Kenji Nagai is the first foreigner known to have killed during last week’s brutal crackdown on protesters in Burma. The death of the 50-year old photo journalist shocked not only people in Japan but the world over, as a hazy video footage of a Burmese soldier ginning him down from close range, circulates in the international media.

Before leaving for Burma, Minister Yabunaka told reporters at Narita airport in Tokyo that he will seek a full account of the incident and demand safety guarantees for Japanese nationals.

The Burmese junta, last week opened fire on protesters in Rangoon led by Buddhist monks. Protests in Rangoon and parts of Burma, which began since August 19, last week took a violent turn as protesters demanded a solution to political problems in Burma.

The junta, which initially showed restraint, on September 26, had its soldiers open fire on protesters. The state media announced 10 deaths but diplomats and activists said it is far more than 10 and estimated that at least 200 to have been killed so far.

“I want to tell them [the Burmese junta] to hold a dialogue with pro-democracy forces and pave the way for democracy,” he added.

Japan, one of the countries providing the biggest humanitarian assistance to Burma, last week joined an international outcry over Burmese junta’s brutal crackdown on peaceful protesters and called on the regime to exercise restraint.