Ousted former President Yoon Suk Yeol on Thursday apologized to key military commanders who are standing trial for their involvement in his failed martial law bid, defending their action as the result of compliance with his orders. Yoon made the remarks at a martial law trial against the commanders at the military court in central Seoul, which he attended as a witness. Defendants included Kwak Jong-keun, former chief of the Army Special Warfare Command; Yeo In-hyung, former head of the Defense Counterintelligence Command; and Lee Jin-woo, former head of the Capital Defense Command. "It is pitiful to see senior military and police officials whom I know appear at the court," Yoon said. "I feel very sorry as they are people who did what they have to do upon my decision," he said, adding he prayed late into the night after returning to the detention center following trials. During Thursday's trial, Yoon reiterated that he had no intention of maintaining martial law for an extended period and that the declaration was aimed only at exposing the "blatant" behavior of the then main opposition pa