North Korea says it tested long-range cruise missiles

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — North Korea said Monday it fired long-range strategic cruise missiles into the sea to test the country’s nuclear deterrence, days after it showed apparent progress in the construction of its first nuclear-powered submarine.

Sunday’s launches were the latest weapons display by North Korea ahead of its planned ruling Workers’ Party congress early next year. Keen outside attention on the congress, the first of its kind in five years, will be on whether North Korean leader Kim Jong Un will establish new priorities in relations with the U.S. and respond to Washington's calls to resume long-dormant talks.

The official Korean Central News Agency reported that Kim expressed “great satisfaction” over Sunday's launches, which occurred off the country’s west coast. It said Kim noted that testing the reliability of North Korea's nuclear deterrence and demonstrating its might are “just a responsible exercise of the right to self-defense and war deterrence” in the face of external security threats.

South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said it was aware of several cruise missile launches made from North Korea’s capital region on Sunday morning. It said South Korea maintains a readiness to repel any potential North Korean provocations through its alliance with the United States.

U.N. Security Council resolutions prohibit North Korea from launches involving its huge stockpile of ballistic missiles. Its cruise missile tests aren’t banned, but they still pose a threat to the U.S. and South Korea because they are highly maneuverable and fly at low altitudes to avoid radar detection. Analysts say North Korea would aim to use cruise missiles to strike U.S. warships and aircraft carriers in the event of conflict.

Last week, North Korea test-launched new anti-air missiles off its east coast and displayed photos showing a largely completed hull of a developmental nuclear-powered submarine. North Korea implied it would arm the submarine with nuclear missiles.

A nuclear-powered submarine is among a slew of sophisticated weapons systems that Kim has vowed to introduce to cope with what he describes as U.S.-led security threats. Some experts say North Korea’s recent alignment with Russia — including sending thousands of troops and military equipment to support President Vladimir Putin’s war in Ukraine — may have helped it to receive crucial technologies in return.

North Korea has focused on weapons-testing activities to expand its nuclear arsenal since Kim's high-stakes nuclear diplomacy with U.S. President Donald Trump collapsed in 2019.

But in an apparent response to Trump’s repeated outreach, Kim suggested in September that he could return to talks if the U.S. drops “its delusional obsession with denuclearization” of North Korea. Experts say Kim might think his enlarged nuclear arsenal would give him greater leverage to wrest concessions in potential talks with Trump.

In this photo provided by the North Korean government, smoke billows from a building after it says a long-range strategic cruise missile fired from the Yellow Sea off North Korea hit Sunday, Dec. 28, 2025. Independent journalists were not given access to cover the event depicted in this image distributed by the North Korean government. The content of this image is as provided and cannot be independently verified. Korean language watermark on image as provided by source reads: "KCNA" which is the abbreviation for Korean Central News Agency. (Korean Central News Agency/Korea News Service via AP)

This photo provided by the North Korean government, shows what it says a test of a long-range strategic cruise missile in the Yellow Sea off North Korea Sunday, Dec. 28, 2025. Independent journalists were not given access to cover the event depicted in this image distributed by the North Korean government. The content of this image is as provided and cannot be independently verified. Korean language watermark on image as provided by source reads: "KCNA" which is the abbreviation for Korean Central News Agency. (Korean Central News Agency/Korea News Service via AP)

In this undated photo provided Friday, Dec. 26, 2025, by the North Korean government, its leader Kim Jong Un inspects missile and shell production at a factory in an undisclosed location, North Korea. Independent journalists were not given access to cover the event depicted in this image distributed by the North Korean government. The content of this image is as provided and cannot be independently verified. Korean language watermark on image as provided by source reads: "KCNA" which is the abbreviation for Korean Central News Agency. (Korean Central News Agency/Korea News Service via AP)

In this undated photo provided Friday, Dec. 26, 2025, by the North Korean government, its leader Kim Jong Un inspects missile and shell production at a factory in an undisclosed location, North Korea. Independent journalists were not given access to cover the event depicted in this image distributed by the North Korean government. The content of this image is as provided and cannot be independently verified. Korean language watermark on image as provided by source reads: "KCNA" which is the abbreviation for Korean Central News Agency. (Korean Central News Agency/Korea News Service via AP)

LAS VEGAS (AP) — The Raiders' fate Sunday might have been sealed earlier in the week when management took three key players out of the lineup and placed them on injured reserve.

A major win came out of their 34-10 loss to the New York Giants — a clear shot at the top pick in next year's NFL draft.

Las Vegas (2-14) will secure the top pick with a loss next week to Kansas City, and quarterback Geno Smith is unlikely to play because of a high ankle sprain. The Raiders’ skid reached 10 games, which matches last season’s streak for fifth-longest in franchise history.

The Giants (3-13), who snapped a nine-game losing streak, could still wind up with the top pick if they lose to Dallas next weekend and the Raiders beat the Chiefs. Interim coach Mike Kafka got his first win after losing his first five, and the Giants had their largest margin of victory since defeating Indianapolis 38-10 in Week 17 of the 2022 season.

“The things we were playing for were each other,” Kafka said. “You get into a football locker room, it's a family. Sometimes you have to go through ups and downs, but you keep plugging away, keep on putting in the hard work and then you'll get the result that you want.”

Dart, taken by the Giants with the No. 25 pick in the 2025 draft, showed his dual-threat ability by passing for 207 yards and rushing for 48 yards and two touchdowns.

An NFL Network report said the Giants were keeping their options open for the draft even at quarterback.

“I know I'm going to be here for a very long time,” Dart said. “I'm just excited to start winning more games and turn this place around and do my job. We have a bright future.”

Wan’Dale Robinson caught 11 passes for 113 yards to become the first player 5-foot-8 or shorter to reach the 1,000-yard mark since 5-7 Richard Johnson in 1989. Robinson also is just the third since the 1970 AFL-NFL merger, according to Sportradar.

“It means a lot,” Robinson said. “I've always been labeled a slight guy that can only do certain things and never hit certain numbers. So I wanted to prove really to myself that I can do everything out on the football field that I need to do.”

Linebacker Brian Burns recorded 1 1/2 sacks, giving him a career-high 16 1/2 for the season.

Smith, again booed in pregame introductions, passed for 176 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions before leaving early in the fourth quarter with the ankle injury. Smith has a league-high 17 picks.

Kenny Pickett replaced him and completed both passes for 16 yards.

Smith's interception in the first quarter set the tone, a red-zone pick by linebacker Bobby Okereke that was returned 48 yards to set up a Giants touchdown and 7-0 lead. That was just New York's seventh interception this season.

The rebuilding Raiders were without a number of notable players, giving embattled coach Pete Carroll nearly a shell of a lineup. Las Vegas went from a 1 1/2-point favorite at BetMGM Sportsbook to a 3-point underdog after defensive end Maxx Crosby (knee), tight end Brock Bowers (knee) and safety Jeremy Chinn (back) were placed on season-ending injured reserve.

Crosby, one of the league's top pass rushers, initially was sidelined just for this game. That decision so upset him that he left the Raiders' facility on Friday. He told reporters earlier in the week that trying to win was more important than securing the top draft pick.

“That’s what we look like without those guys playing,” Carroll said. "Unfortunately, they’re that valuable to us. Everybody tried, everybody did everything they could and all that just wasn’t enough.”

As for his future with the organization, Carroll said he believed he had management's backing.

“What does that mean? I don't know," Carroll said. ”But our conversations have been really good."

But now the Raiders could be in position to draft a potentially franchise-changing quarterback and end more than two decades of playoff futility.

The Giants have their own issues, but hope Dart is worth rebuilding around. The person who coaches Dart next season is a major question.

This is the fourth time the teams with the two outright worst records have met in the final two weeks, according to Sportradar. The previous time occurred in 1981 between the 1-14 Baltimore Colts and 2-13 New England Patriots.

Giants: CB Cor’Dale Flott (knee) did not play. ... S Jevón Holland (knee) was injured in the third quarter.

Raiders: WR Jack Bech (back), RB Raheem Mostert (ankle/knee) and G Dylan Parham (illness) did not play. ... DT Adam Butler (bicep) was injured in the second quarter. ... G Dylan Parham (illness) left in the first half.

Giants: Host Dallas next weekend.

Raiders: Host Kansas City next weekend.

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

New York Giants linebacker Bobby Okereke (58) celebrates his interception with cornerback Deonte Banks (2) and linebacker Darius Muasau (53) during the first half of an NFL football game against the Las Vegas Raiders Sunday, Dec. 28, 2025, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)

Las Vegas Raiders defensive tackle Thomas Booker IV (99) tackles New York Giants wide receiver Wan'Dale Robinson (17) during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 28, 2025, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/David Becker)

New York Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart celebrates his touchdown during the first half of an NFL football game against the Las Vegas Raiders Sunday, Dec. 28, 2025, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)

New York Giants wide receiver Wan'Dale Robinson (17) reacts to a play during the first half of an NFL football game against the Las Vegas Raiders Sunday, Dec. 28, 2025, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)