services. they are not giving very much in the way of specifics but let's be clear. the state department doesn't shut things down for no reason. >> it follows the complete shutdown of the u.s. embassies in somalia, in libya, in yemen, certainly in syria as well. so these u.s. embassies are being shut down across the region. barbara, thanks very much. as the united states steps up security at some of its embassies there are now reports of death threats, death threats directed at caroline kennedy. the united states ambassador to japan, the daughter of john f. kennedy. word of the threat comes on the same day that the first lady michelle obama arrives in japan and the reports follow the recent stabbing of another u.s. ambassador. let's go to our senior white house correspondent jim acosta for much more. jim? >> reporter: it's a very sensitive matter so the state department of course is saying very little about these reported threats to one of the administration's highest profile ambassadors, caroline kennedy, in japan. but these concerns for kennedy's safety come as the first lady as