part of syria. >> let me ask you about north korea now. yesterday the trump administration put north korea on the sponsor list of terrorism. they also announced some new sanctions today. in your view, are these measures meaningful? >> they're all good. they're amping up the pressure. none of these are a step function, all right? we're on a curve here. that's increasing the pressure on the north koreans. i think designating them a state sponsor of terror gives us additional tools for secondary sanctions that we can interfere in the banking system of those who would dare bank with the north korean regime. so, yeah, it's good, but sanctioning are cee slow moving. they're like rust, not an explosion. >> final question, it's been 60 days since north korea's carried out a provocative act, missile test, et cetera. is that a hopeful sidelinlence