secretary of state john kerry, on his first trip overseas tonight. And it is taking him straight into the lion's den. Abc's chief global affairs correspondent martha raddatz is with him. In almost every hot spot around the globe tonight, there is uncertainty and urgency. This is the world the new secretary of state is running into, head-on. In north korea today, a wild and dangerous threat. To cancel the 60-year-old cease-fire that has held the peace since the korean war. Our preference is not to brandish threats at each other. Reporter: The problems to the west, in iran, even more urgent, with kerry conceding to abc news today, they are closer to getting a nuclear weapon than ever. Then, there are the risks in nearby syria, with 70,000 dead and nearly a million refugees. Would you rule out giving lethal aid? Let me just say, the point is, there is a holistic, united effort now that is focused on trying to save lives in syria and make it clear to president assad that we are determined. Reporter: Four years ago, this was hillary clinton on her first trip overseas. Huge reception. A buzz in the air. Today, for kerry, it is very different. The buzz and the crowds replaced with the sober reality that the attractable threats facing america have never been more real. Martha raddatz, abc news, qatar.