The U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) said Tuesday that it has increased air defense exercises in South Korea, after speculations that North Korea had used an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) system in its recent tests. USFK said that its 35th air defense artillery brigade has recently increased the intensity of its certification exercise as a demonstration of the forces’ capabilities and commitment to defend South Korea against any threat or adversary. “[The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea’s] significant increase in its missile testing activity undermines peace, security, and destabilizes the Northeast Asia region,” it said in a statement, referring to North Korea’s official name. It noted that the unit validated their wartime mission requirements “by moving to a remote location, occupying its wartime defensive position, emplacing the patriot missile system, and executing air and missile defense operations under a simulated combat scenario.” “While this type of training is routinely conducted by U.S. …