Limited Test Ban Treaty

An agreement signed in Moscow on August 5, 1963, by representatives of the USSR, United Kingdom, and United States, after U.S. President John F. Kennedy and Soviet premier Nikita Khrushchev reached a compromise. Entered into force on October 10, 1963, it prohibits “any nuclear weapon test explosion, or any other nuclear explosion” in the atmosphere, in outer space, or under water. It failed to ban underground tests, as the United States and the USSR could not agree on procedures for on-site inspections.

See the Introduction, Abbreviations and Pronunciation for further details.