What Did The Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty Of 1968 Affirm?

The Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, also known as the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons has been signed on by 168 countries with the aim of limiting the spread of nuclear weapons.  

It opened for signature on July 1 1968 after being originally proposed by Ireland.  Finland was the first country to sign.  

The treaty allows 5 countries to own nuclear weapons – France, China, Soviet Union, UK and USA.  In the Soviet Union's case, Russia took over their obligations and rights when the union split up.  These five countries were the only countries processing nuclear weapons at the time that the treaty was signed, and they also make up the permanent members of the United Nations Security Council.  

The five nuclear weapons states (NWS) agree not to pass nuclear weapons or other nuclear explosive devices to other states and non-NWS agree not to seek or develop nuclear weapons.  

The only country to withdraw from the treaty has been North Korea, which pulled out on 10 January 2003 after accusations by USA that it had started an enriched uranium weapons program and the subsequent stopping of fuel oil shipments