A senior official from the Presidential Security Service(PSS) testified that former President Yoon Suk Yeol instructed the agency to fire warning shots and expose firearms during patrols to prevent his arrest in January.

During Yoon's public duty obstruction trial on Tuesday, a PSS official, identified by his surname Kim, said on the stand that Yoon had called attempts to arrest him unlawful at a luncheon the same month.

According to Kim, the former president said blocking his arrest would be a justified enforcement of the law.

Kim said Yoon had instructed secret service agents to show their firearms during patrol deliberately and even to fire warning shots to increase pressure on the police and the anti-corruption agency.

The witness said Secret Service agents were on standby around the clock at the official residence following the initial attempt on January 3, and that former first lady Kim Keon-hee was aware of the emergency duty, having sent them fruit as a show of appreciation.