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South Korea's President Attends Court Hearing on Extending Detention

A blue van believed to be transporting impeached South Korea President Yoon Suk Yeol leaves the Seoul Western District Court after a hearing in Seoul on January 18, 2025, as the court weighs whether to extend the detention of Yoon, after investigators arrested him over a failed martial law bid. (Photo by JUNG Yeon-je / AFP)
A blue van believed to be transporting impeached South Korea President Yoon Suk Yeol leaves the Seoul Western District Court after a hearing in Seoul on January 18, 2025, as the court weighs whether to extend the detention of Yoon, after investigators arrested him over a failed martial law bid. (Photo by JUNG Yeon-je / AFP)
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South Korea's President Attends Court Hearing on Extending Detention

A blue van believed to be transporting impeached South Korea President Yoon Suk Yeol leaves the Seoul Western District Court after a hearing in Seoul on January 18, 2025, as the court weighs whether to extend the detention of Yoon, after investigators arrested him over a failed martial law bid. (Photo by JUNG Yeon-je / AFP)
A blue van believed to be transporting impeached South Korea President Yoon Suk Yeol leaves the Seoul Western District Court after a hearing in Seoul on January 18, 2025, as the court weighs whether to extend the detention of Yoon, after investigators arrested him over a failed martial law bid. (Photo by JUNG Yeon-je / AFP)

South Korea's impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol attended a court hearing on Saturday to fight a request by investigators to extend his detention on accusations of insurrection.
Yoon on Wednesday became the country's first sitting president to be arrested, in a criminal probe related to his short-lived declaration of martial law on Dec. 3.
Investigators requested a detention warrant on Friday to extend their custody of Yoon for up to 20 days. He has been refusing to talk to investigators and has been held in Seoul Detention Center since his arrest.
After the hearing, Yoon returned to Seoul Detention Center to await the court's decision, which is expected on Saturday or Sunday, Reuters reported.
The hearing at Seoul Western District Court lasted nearly five hours. Yoon spoke for about 40 minutes during the hearing, Yonhap said, citing Yoon's lawyer.
"(Yoon) sincerely explained and answered questions on factual relationships, evidence and legal principles... We will quietly wait for the court to decide," said Yoon's lawyer, Yoon Kab-keun, after the hearing.
Yoon had decided to attend the hearing "to restore his honor by directly explaining the legitimacy of emergency martial law and that insurrection is not established", his lawyer said earlier on Saturday.
TV channels showed a convoy of around a dozen cars and police motorbikes escorting Yoon from the detention center to the court, as well as back to the detention center.
Since police broke up a crowd of Yoon's supporters blocking the court gate in the morning, thousands of supporters surrounded the court after the hearing began at around 2 p.m. (0500 GMT) behind a police barricade chanting "release the president".
"There are so many supporters of President Yoon Suk Yeol around the court, who still believe in the rule of law and are defending the president," said Lee Se-ban, a 30-year-old man.
Multiple people were arrested by police for trying to break into the court grounds, including a young man who tried to escape, according to a Reuters witness.
Insurrection, the crime alleged against Yoon by the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials, is one of the few that an incumbent South Korean president does not have immunity from.

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Hundreds of Swedish Forces Arrive in Latvia in Largest Deployment with NATO to Date

Swedish and NATO flags are seen printed on paper this illustration taken April 13, 2022. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo
Swedish and NATO flags are seen printed on paper this illustration taken April 13, 2022. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo
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Hundreds of Swedish Forces Arrive in Latvia in Largest Deployment with NATO to Date

Swedish and NATO flags are seen printed on paper this illustration taken April 13, 2022. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo
Swedish and NATO flags are seen printed on paper this illustration taken April 13, 2022. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo

Hundreds of Swedish troops arrived in Latvia on Saturday to join a Canadian-led multinational brigade along NATO's eastern flank, a mission Sweden is calling its most significant operation so far as a member of the Western defense alliance.

A ship carrying parts of a mechanized infantry battalion arrived early Saturday in the port of Riga, the Latvian capital, escorted by the Swedish air force and units from the Swedish and Latvian navies, the Swedish armed forces said in a statement, The AP reported.

Latvia borders Russia to its east and Russia ally Belarus to its southeast. Tensions are high across Central Europe due to Russia's war against Ukraine.

Sweden's armed forces said the mission of 550 troops will contribute to the alliance’s deterrence and defense efforts, and ensure stability in the region, and that it “marks Sweden’s largest commitment yet since joining NATO.”

Commander Lieutenant Colonel Henrik Rosdahl of the 71st Battalion said he felt great pride in contributing to the alliance's collective defense.

"It’s a historic day, but at the same time, it’s our new normal,” he said.

The Swedish troops join one of eight NATO brigades along the alliance’s eastern flank. The battalion is stationed outside the town of Adazi, near Riga.

Sweden formally joined NATO in March as the 32nd member of the trans-Atlantic military alliance, ending decades of post-World War II neutrality and centuries of broader nonalignment with major powers as security concerns in Europe have spiked following Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine.

Finland also abandoned its longstanding military neutrality to join NATO in April 2023, due to anxieties sparked when Russia invaded Ukraine the previous year.