'This Week' Transcript: Secretary of State John Kerry

Washington, D.C. Dec. 15, 2013— -- A rush transcript of "This week with George Stephanopoulos" airing on Sunday morning, December 15 2013 on ABC News is below. This copy may not be in its final form and may be updated. For a full transcript of Martha Raddatz's interview with Secretary of State John Kerry click here.

RADDATZ: Good morning, welcome to a special edition of "This Week" from Vietnam.

On edge, the trouble brewing across the globe from North Korea to Iran, Afghanistan to Syria. We're traveling with America's top diplomat, the globe-trotting Secretary of State John Kerry. What can he do to keep the peace abroad and keep Americans safe at home? And how did his experiences at war here in Vietnam shape his world view. It's an ABC News exclusive.

Plus, the Republican free for all.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REP. JOHN BOEHNER, (R) OHIO: I don't care what they do.

Are you kidding me?

(END VIDEO CLIP)

RADDATZ: With Speaker Boehner in all-out-war against the Tea Party, who will win the fight? Newt Gingrich and Robert Reich join the powerhouse roundtable to break it all down.

It's all, right here, this Sunday morning.

ANNOUNCER: A special edition of "This Wee" with Martha Raddatz in Vietnam and Jonathan Karl in Washington starts right now.

RADDATZ: Hello, again. I'm Martha Raddatz. Great to have you with us from Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam where we're on the road with Secretary of State John Kerry tracking developments here in the region, including the stunning events in North Korea where the leader Kim Jong-un has executed his uncle and mentor.

We're also following several other developing stories this morning, including the funeral service for Nelson Mandela. Prince Charles and Jesse Jackson are among the guests for the private ceremony in Mandela's home village this morning capping a 10 day goodbye to the former South African president.

Meanwhile, back here in the city, formerly known as Saigon, this is the first trip here for Secretary of State John Kerry since the Vietnam veteran took on his new post. It's been a busy first year for the son of a foreign service officer who is now the top American diplomat.

Just this week, a dramatic shift in Syria. Is al Qaeda gaining ground there?

Plus, those alarming new revelations over an American being held in Iran.

But we started off with that shocking move by North Korea's young dictator that has rattled governments throughout the region.

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RADDATZ: Mr. Secretary I want to get right to reports out of North Korea that the young leader, Kim Jong-un has executed his uncle, his mentor, one of the most powerful people in North Korea. What does this tell you about the danger coming from North Korea?

KERRY: Well, it tells us a lot about, first of all, how ruthless and reckless he is. And it also tells us a lot about how insecure he is, to a certain degree. It tells a significant amount about the instability internally of the regime, with the numbers of executions, this is not the first execution. There have been a significant number of executions taken place over the last months which we're aware of. And most importantly, it underscores the importance for all of us of finding a way forward with North Korea in order to denuclearize the peninsula.

It's an ominous sign of the instability and of the danger that does exist.

RADDATZ: What does it tell you about him? We know so little about him?