S. Korea's Yoon to submit written opinion, appoint counsel over arrest warrant request

South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol will submit a written opinion and appoint defense counsel to the Seoul Western District Court, the Yonhap news agency reported Monday citing Yoon's representatives.

Yoon Kab-keun, lawyer and former prosecutor, was quoted as saying that Yoon's written opinion will be submitted later in the day to the court, to which the joint investigation unit sought an arrest warrant for Yoon over his short-lived martial law imposition earlier this month. 

The lawyer noted that the appointment letter for Yoon's defense counsel will be delivered to the court. 

The response came shortly after South Korea's joint investigation unit said it has requested an arrest warrant for the now suspended president on insurrection and abuse of power charges after Yoon ignored three summonses to appear for questioning.

A Seoul court will decide whether to issue an arrest warrant following the investigators' request.

Yoon has previously denied the charges brought against him, saying his declaration of martial law was an "act of governance" to warn the opposition party against what he described as its abuse of legislative power.

(With input from agencies)