The nuclear non-proliferation treaty

THE NUCLEAR NON-PROLIFERATION TREATY (NPT), a cornerstone agreement in efforts to regulate nuclear weapons globally, entered into force in 1970. 190 countries have joined the Treaty, including the five States recognised under the Treaty as possessing nuclear weapons: China, France, the Russian Federation, the United Kingdom and the United States. Three countries, which have or are suspected of having nuclear weapons programmes, are currently outside the NPT: India, Israel and Pakistan. The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea announced its withdrawal from the Treaty in 2003 and its legal status in the Treaty remains uncertain.