The U.S. has announced that it will permanently deploy attack drones to South Korea to help counter the growing threats posed by North Korea's nuclear and missile programs — including to U.S. military bases in Japan.

"The U.S. Army, after coordination with the Republic of Korea Armed Forces and the U.S. Air Force, has begun the process to permanently station a Gray Eagle Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) company at Kunsan Air Base, Republic of Korea," U.S. Forces Korea said in a statement Monday.

"The UAS adds significant intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capability to U.S. Forces Korea and our ROK partners," it added.