The non-proliferation treaty

The Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty is an agreement between 188 of the world's countries. It hopes to make the planet a safer place by setting out rules about how nuclear technology should be used.

The treaty has three main aims:

1. Stopping any more countries getting nuclear weapons.
2. Encouraging existing nuclear powers to get rid of their weapons.
3. Giving countries the right to use nuclear technology peacefully - for things like making electricity.

Who has signed it?

Almost every country in the world has signed the treaty. This includes five current nuclear powers; UK, Russia, USA, China and France. South Africa is part of the treaty and they are the only country so far who have developed nuclear weapons and then decided to dismantle all their bombs.

Who hasn't signed it?

Three important countries who haven't signed the treaty are India, Pakistan and Israel. India and Pakistan have openly tested nuclear weapons and Israel is widely believed to have nuclear weapons.

North Korea did sign the treaty in 1985 but withdrew in 2003. In 2005, it declared that it had nuclear weapons.