|TOP|North Korea has come out on top of the 2006 Open Doors “World Watch List” of 50 countries where the persecution of Christians is most intense.

This is the fourth year in a row the Communist country has topped the annual list, which is based on evaluations and testimonies from indigenous contacts, field workers and members of the Persecuted Church, reports CrossWalk.

This was also the second year in a row that Saudi Arabia has come second on the List. Others in the top ten include Iran, Somalia, Maldives, Bhutan, Yemen, Vietnam, Laos and China.

The new List estimates that tens of thousands of Christians continue to face daily abuse in prison camps within North Korea, with many thought to be facing torture and death.

Although there are no exact figures, Open Doors estimates that hundreds of Christians were killed by the regime in 2005 alone.

|AD|"North Korea is the most repressive nation in the world. It certainly deserves its No. 1 ranking on the 2006 World Watch List," says Open Doors USA President Dr. Carl Moeller. "It breaks my heart to hear some of the atrocities against our brothers and sisters there.”

Open Doors U.S.A. has started a Prayer Campaign for North Korea in light of the intense persecution where Christians can sign up to pray for 10 minutes a week for their brothers and sisters suffering in the country.

“Let's lift up the needs of our fellow believers in North Korea and in all the countries on the World Watch List,” said Moeller.

Open Doors U.S.A. will also collaborate with the North Korea Freedom Coalition (NKFC), of which it is a member, during the North Korea Freedom Week which takes place from 24 to 30 April 2006.

Christians in Saudi Arabia continue to suffer as religious freedom becomes increasingly endangered under the legal system based on Shariah law which only permits the religion Islam.

Iran has also intensified persecution of Christians following the victory of conservative parties in 2004 and the election of the hard-line conservative President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in 2005.