Media watchdog Reporters Without Borders has named North Korea, China and Myanmar the world's worst violators of freedom of the press.

In its annual report, the Paris-based group pointed out that even in countries like the United States, there continue to be cases violating the press' freedom.

The group said in its report that the current situation in Iraq is particularly troubling, pointing out that a total of 44 reporters have been killed in the country since the U.S. launched the second Gulf war in March, 2003.

According to the report, North Korea was named the worst violator of press freedom in the world out of 167 countries.