A former South Korean defence minister charged with insurrection for his role in a short-lived martial law attempt told a court on Thursday that he wanted a broader military deployment but was overruled by President Yoon Suk Yeol.

South Korea’s impeached president has denied that he ordered the military to drag lawmakers out of the National Assembly to prevent them from voting to reject his martial law decree last month, as he appeared for the first time before the Constitutional Court that will determine his fate.

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol has been indicted over his brief martial law imposition last month. Accused of rebellion, Yoon claims his decree was a warning against the opposition. With potential severe legal consequences,