S. Korean ex-defense minister formally arrested for insurrection charges

SEOUL -- South Korea's former defense minister Kim Yong-hyun was formally arrested Wednesday on insurrection charges related to President Yoon Suk-yeol's declaration of martial law, Yonhap news agency reported.

The Seoul Central District Court issued a formal arrest warrant for Kim, who had already been detained since Sunday, after prosecutors accused him of engaging in "essential" activities in insurrection and abusing his power to obstruct the exercising of rights when martial law was in place for six hours between Tuesday and Wednesday last week, the report said.

The court granted the prosecution's request to arrest Kim, saying it was worried that he would destroy evidence, it added.

The former defense chief waived Tuesday's court hearing to review the arrest warrant.

President Yoon Suk-yeol has already been booked as a suspect and barred from traveling overseas.

Under the law, while the president mostly has immunity from prosecution while in office, that does not extend to allegations of rebellion or treason.