South Korea unveils its most powerful missile, which could reach North Korea's underground bunkers

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — South Korea unveiled its most powerful ballistic missile and other weapons that could target North Korea during a massive Armed Forces Day ceremony on Tuesday, as the South's president warned the North's regime would collapse if it attempts to use nuclear weapons.

South Korea’s weapons displays and warning against North Korea came after its northern rival recently rose regional animosities by disclosing its uranium-enrichment facility and tested missiles ahead of the U.S. presidential election in November.

“If North Korea attempts to use nuclear weapons, it will face the resolute and overwhelming response of our military and the (South Korea)-U.S. alliance,” President Yoon Suk Yeol told thousands of troops gathered at a military airport near Seoul. “That day will be the end of the North Korean regime.”

“The North Korean regime must abandon the delusion that nuclear weapons will protect them,” Yoon said.

During the ceremony, the South Korean military displayed about 340 military equipment and weapons systems. Among them was its most powerful Hyunmoo-5 ballistic missile, which observers say is capable of carrying an 8-ton conventional warhead that can penetrate deep into the earth and destroy underground bunkers in North Korea.

It was the first time for South Korea to disclose that missile.

The United States flew a long-range B-1B bomber during the ceremony in an apparent demonstration of its security commitment to its Asian ally. South Korea also flew some of its most advanced fighter jets.

Later Tuesday, South Korea paraded its troops and weapons through the streets of Seoul, the country's capital, as part of efforts to boost military morale and demonstrate its deterrence capabilities against potential North Korean aggressions.

Since taking office in 2022, Yoon, a conservative, has put a stronger military alliance with the U.S. and an improved trilateral Seoul-Washington-Tokyo security cooperation at the center of his security polices to cope with North Korea’s advancing nuclear program. In recent years, North Korea has performed a provocative run of missile tests and threatened to use nuclear weapons preemptively in potential conflicts with South Korea and the United States.

Last month, concerns about North Korea’s bomb program further grew after it published photos of a secretive facility to enrich uranium for nuclear weapons. It was North Korea’s first unveiling of a uranium-enrichment facility since it showed one at the country’s main Yongbyon nuclear complex to visiting American scholars in 2010.

South Korean officials say North Korea will likely try to further dial up tensions with high-profile weapons tests ahead of the U.S. election to increase its leverage in future diplomacy with a new U.S. government. Experts say North Korea likely thinks an expanded nuclear arsenal would help it win bigger U.S. concessions like extensive sanctions relief.

Earlier Tuesday, North Korea’s vice defense minister, Kim Kang Il, slammed the U.S. for its temporary deployments of powerful military assets to South Korea and vowed strong responses. He cited the recent visit of a U.S. nuclear-powered submarine and Tuesday's B-1B flyover.

Kim threatened to bolster North Korea's “powerful war deterrent,” an apparent reference to its nuclear capability, and take unspecified steps to stoke security concerns to the security of the U.S. mainland. Observers say his comments implies North Korea may consider test-firing an intercontinental ballistic missile capable of reaching the U.S. mainland.

Also Tuesday, South Korea launched its strategic command meant to deal with North Korea's nuclear weapons program. Seoul officials say the command integrates South Korea’s conventional capabilities with U.S. nuclear weapons. South Korea has no nuclear weapons.

Follow AP's Asia-Pacific coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/asia-pacific

South Korean army soldiers take part in a parade during the 76th Armed Forces Day ceremony in Seoul, South Korea, Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)

South Korea's "Cheongung" missiles are carried in a parade during the 76th Armed Forces Day ceremony in Seoul, South Korea, Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)

South Korea's missiles are carried in a parade during the 76th Armed Forces Day ceremony in Seoul, South Korea, Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)

South Korea's missiles are carried in a parade during the 76th Armed Forces Day ceremony in Seoul, South Korea, Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)

U.S. Army soldiers take part in a parade during the 76th Armed Forces Day ceremony in Seoul, South Korea, Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)

South Korean army's K2 tanks take part in a parade during the 76th Armed Forces Day ceremony in Seoul, South Korea, Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, right, inspects South Korean troops during a celebration to mark the 76th anniversary of Korea Armed Forces Day in Seongnam, South Korea Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2024. (Kim Hong-Ji/Pool Photo via AP)

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, center right, and his wife Kim Keon Hee attend a celebration to mark the 76th anniversary of Korea Armed Forces Day in Seongnam, South Korea Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2024. (Kim Hong-Ji/Pool Photo via AP)

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, center, arrives for a celebration to mark the 76th anniversary of Korea Armed Forces Day in Seongnam, South Korea Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2024. (Kim Hong-Ji/Pool Photo via AP)

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol delivers his speech during a celebration to mark the 76th anniversary of Korea Armed Forces Day in Seongnam, South Korea Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2024. (Kim Hong-Ji/Pool Photo via AP)

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol salutes after delivering his speech during a celebration to mark the 76th anniversary of Korea Armed Forces Day in Seongnam, South Korea Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2024. (Kim Hong-Ji/Pool Photo via AP)

Members of the Special Warfare Command parachute as 123-storey skyscraper Lotte World Tower is seen in the background during a celebration to mark 76th anniversary of Korea Armed Forces Day, in Seongnam, South Korea, Tuesday, Oct.1, 2024. (Kim Hong-Ji/Pool Photo via AP)

Members of South Korean Air Force's honor guards attend a celebration to mark 76th anniversary of Korea Armed Forces Day, in Seongnam, South Korea, Tuesday, Oct.1, 2024. (Kim Hong-Ji/Pool Photo via AP)

The Black Eagles, the aerobatic team of T-50 jets belonging to South Korea's Air Force, perform during a celebration to mark 76th anniversary of Korea Armed Forces Day, in Seongnam, South Korea, Tuesday, Oct.1, 2024. (Kim Hong-Ji/Pool Photo via AP)

Cadets march during a celebration to mark 76th anniversary of Korea Armed Forces Day, in Seongnam, South Korea, Tuesday, Oct.1, 2024. (Kim Hong-Ji/Pool Photo via AP)

A South Korean army Apache helicopter fires flares during a celebration to mark 76th anniversary of Korea Armed Forces Day, in Seongnam, South Korea, Tuesday, Oct.1, 2024. (Kim Hong-Ji/Pool Photo via AP)

Members of the Special Warfare Command give a demonstration of their skills in the traditional Korean martial art of taekwondo during a celebration to mark 76th anniversary of Korea Armed Forces Day, in Seongnam, South Korea, Tuesday, Oct.1, 2024. (Kim Hong-Ji/Pool Photo via AP)

A U.S. Air Force B1 Bomber flies with South Korean Air Force's F-15K fighter jets during a celebration to mark 76th anniversary of Korea Armed Forces Day, in Seongnam, South Korea, Tuesday, Oct.1, 2024. (Kim Hong-Ji/Pool Photo via AP)

A quadruped robot marches during a celebration to mark the 76th anniversary of Korea Armed Forces Day in Seongnam, South Korea Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2024. (Kim Hong-Ji/Pool Photo via AP)

The Hyunmoo, surface-to-surface missile, march during a celebration to mark 76th anniversary of Korea Armed Forces Day, in Seongnam, South Korea, Tuesday, Oct.1, 2024. (Kim Hong-Ji/Pool Photo via AP)

South Korean special army soldiers parachute down during the media day for the 76th anniversary of Armed Forces Day at Seoul air base in Seongnam, South Korea, Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2024. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)

South Korea's missiles are paraded during the media day for the 76th anniversary of Armed Forces Day at Seoul air base in Seongnam, South Korea, Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2024. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)

South Korean special army soldiers parachute down from a plane during the media day for the 76th anniversary of Armed Forces Day at Seoul air base in Seongnam, South Korea, Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2024. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)

South Korean army soldiers demonstrate their martial arts skills during the media day for the 76th anniversary of Armed Forces Day at Seoul air base in Seongnam, South Korea, Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2024. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)

South Korean soldiers march during the media day for the 76th anniversary of Armed Forces Day at Seoul air base in Seongnam, South Korea, Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2024. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)

South Korean soldiers salute during the media day for the 76th anniversary of Armed Forces Day at Seoul air base in Seongnam, South Korea, Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2024. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)

South Korean military helicopters fly over armored vehicles during the media day for the 76th anniversary of Armed Forces Day at Seoul air base in Seongnam, South Korea, Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2024. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)

South Korean mechanized unit personnel parade with their armored vehicles during the media day for the 76th anniversary of Armed Forces Day at Seoul air base in Seongnam, South Korea, Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2024. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)

The NFL set a record for fewest punts per game in 2025, and wild-card weekend was filled with fourth-down fun and folly as punters were mostly spectators, especially Chicago's Tory Taylor, who never stepped off the sideline in the Bears' come-from-behind win over the Green Bay Packers.

In all, teams converted 15 of 29 fourth down attempts on wild-card weekend, when there were only 41 punts, nine of them Monday night in the Houston Texans' 30-6 rout of Aaron Rodgers and the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Bears first-year coach Ben Johnson was particularly aggressive, going for it a half-dozen times on fourth down Saturday night, including two backfires in the first half that led to a pair of Green Bay touchdowns and put the Bears in a 21-3 halftime hole.

Caleb Williams was intercepted on fourth-and-6 from the Packers 40-yard line, leading to Jordan Love's 18-yard touchdown throw, and Williams threw incomplete on fourth-and-5 from his own 32. That one led to Love's TD throw on fourth-and-goal from the Bears 2 that gave Green Bay an 18-point halftime cushion.

The Packers couldn't capitalize on another turnover on downs by Chicago just before halftime because Brandon McManus missed a 55-yard field goal on the final play after Williams threw incomplete deep on fourth-and-4 from the Green Bay 37.

When Prime Video's sideline reporter Kaylee Hartung asked the Bears' coach about his aggressive approach and going for it on fourth down multiple times on his own side of the field, Johnson replied, “Yeah, we want to maximize our possessions and we want to go for fourth-down plays."

Her follow-up was about how to slow down Green Bay's efficient offense.

“That's a big reason why we're being aggressive on offense, so that we can extend our drives and score points ourselves,” Johnson said. “It's a really good offense we're going against.”

Although the Bears would convert just twice on their six fourth downs — Green Bay was 3 for 3 on fourth down — that strategy paid off in the end. Williams threw a 27-yard pass to Rome Odunze to the Packers' 30-yard line, which led to the TD that pulled Chicago to 27-24 with 4:21 remaining.

Johnson said the game plan featured an aggressive fourth-down mentality, and "I think where it gets misconstrued is, there’s a lack of confidence in your defense when you do that. I think the opposite, I think it’s because I have confidence in our defense and their ability to stop teams in the red zone."

“I’m never going to apologize for being aggressive or doing things that might be a little unorthodox,” Johnson added, "if it’s what we deem is best for us to win a ballgame.”

Johnson was the Lions' offensive coordinator when Detroit blew a 17-point halftime lead and lost the NFC championship to San Francisco 34-31 after the 2023 season. In that game, Lions coach Dan Campbell went for it on fourth down twice in field-goal range but came up short, later saying he'd do it again if he could.

Those failures didn't curtail the Lions' aggressive fourth-down philosophy, one that Johnson took to Chicago when he was hired by the Bears a year ago.

He had plenty of company over the weekend as a trend from the regular season continued. There were just 3.55 punts per game per team this season and that figure fell in the first round of the playoffs with teams averaging just 3.41 punts per game.

The Panthers and Rams got the fun going Saturday when early fourth-down failures led to touchdowns by each team.

Trevor Lawrence thought he had the first down when the Jaguars went for it on fourth-and-2 from the Buffalo 9 only to see the review reveal his shin had hit the ground shy of the first-down marker, a fourth-down faux pas that proved pivotal in Jacksonville's 27-24 loss to the Bills.

The Bills twice went for it on fourth-and-1 deep in Jaguars territory. Josh Allen had a four-yard keeper on the first one and was carried nine yards on an astonishing tush push to the 1 that also led to a Buffalo touchdown.

The 49ers didn't attempt a single fourth-down conversion in their 23-19 win at Philadelphia, where the Eagles were 3-for-5 on fourth down.

The Patriots converted their only fourth-down try, on fourth-and-4 from the Chargers' 30, which led to a field goal. When the Chargers took a delay after failing to induce an offsides call and then punted from midfield, NBC analyst Cris Collinsworth said, “I think Jim Harbaugh's been watching the games this weekend.”

And when Steelers coach Mike Tomlin chose to take the three points with a 32-yard field goal try rather that chancing it on fourth-and-3 from the Houston 14 Monday night, ESPN analyst Troy Aikman commented: “We're in a time as we all know when a lot of offenses would be going for it. ... But points are going to be (at) a premium. You've got two defenses that are capable of dominating their opponent. Get 'em when you can.”

Well, points certainly were at a premium for Pittsburgh, which hung in there most of the night before the Texans' 23-0 fourth-quarter blitz in what might have been Rodgers' farewell game.

If so, Rodgers' final pass was a pick-6 by safety Calen Bullock, whose 50-yard interception return for a touchdown came on ... you guessed it, fourth down.

AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL

Chicago Bears head coach Ben Johnson reacts during the first half of an NFL wild-card playoff football game against the Green Bay Packers Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Nam Huh)