The lawyers for a former South Korean defence minister under investigation on insurrection charges said on Thursday a short-lived martial law decree imposed earlier this month was to raise alarm on opposition parties' abuse of the democratic process.

South Korea’s President Yoon Suk Yeol again declined to appear for questioning by investigators over his martial law declaration as the embattled leader seeks to first defend himself at an impeachment trial.

South Korean investigators have issued a new summons to suspended President Yoon Suk Yeol for questioning about the failed martial law decree earlier this month, Seoul-based Yonhap News reported.

South Korea's suspended President Yoon Suk Yeol did not respond on Wednesday to a second summons by anti-corruption authorities who, along with prosecutors, are investigating his short-lived martial law decree issued early this month.

South Korean investigators are pressing ahead with their probe into impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol over his Dec. 3 martial law declaration

Impeached South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol likely kept the United States in the dark about his plan to declare martial law to avoid interference, the National Assembly speaker said.

South Korea's main opposition party threatened on Monday to impeach acting president Han Duck-soo if he failed to approve legislation to launch a special counsel investigation into President Yoon Suk Yeol's failed bid to impose martial law.

South Korea's President Yoon Suk Yeol failed to appear before law enforcement authorities on Wednesday for questioning over his attempt to impose martial law. A joint investigation team, consisting of the police,

South Korean police have questioned Prime Minister and Acting President Han Duck-soo as part of an investigation into the short-lived decision this month to impose martial law, an official at his office said on Friday.