Arrest warrant for ousted prez Yoon

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- Agencies

L: A South Korean court issued an arrest warrant for ousted President Yoon Suk Yeol, who has been suspended from power over his short-lived martial law declaration, according to investigators.

The Seoul Western District Court approved the warrant on Tuesday, a day after the investigating team requested it as Yoon has repeatedly refused to appear for questioning. He is under criminal probe for insurrection allegations.

If the warrant is executed, Yoon would be the first sitting president in South Korea's history to be arrested.

It is unclear if investigators will manage to take the president into custody as a previous attempt to search the presidential office was blocked by Yoon's team. After the warrant was issued, Yoon's representatives called the decision "illegal and invalid," and said they will seek an injunction from the Constitutional Court.

The presidential security service said security measures will take place in accordance with the law, without further details.

Yoon's martial law declaration plunged the country into its worst constitutional crisis in decades, pressuring financial markets, disrupting diplomatic efforts and ultimately leading to his impeachment on December 14. Political uncertainty has only intensified since then with the suspension of Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, who briefly replaced Yoon as acting president.

Yoon's representatives have repeatedly said the joint probe team comprising of officials from the police, the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials and the defense ministry, doesn't have the authority to investigate the president over insurrection charges.