Nuclear Weapons: Official NPT Powers and Non-NPT Armed States
Nuclear weapons are held by NPT nations (US, Russia, China, France, UK) and non-NPT states like India, Pakistan, North Korea, and Israel, posing global security challenges.

Nuclear weapons are powerful devices that use nuclear reactions to cause massive destruction. The official nuclear powers recognized under the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) are the United States
, Russia
, China
, France
, and the United Kingdom
. These nations are also permanent members of the UN Security Council. Non-NPT nuclear-armed states include India
, Pakistan
, and North Korea
, while Israel
is believed to have nuclear weapons, though undeclared. These weapons are a major global security concern, prompting efforts for arms control and non-proliferation.