North Korea remained at the bottom of country risk ratings released by international research services during the first half of 2005.

The UK financial journal Euromoney put the country in 184th place out of a total 185 states for the second consecutive year.

The North ranked the lowest out of 173 nations in the assessment of the Institutional Investor News of the U.S., a renowned Wall Street investment journal.

Meanwhile, New York-based Political Risk Services or PRS ranked the nation in 107th spot out of 140 states in its International Country Risk Guide.

Country risk ratings consider each nation’s economic reform, policy transparency, and balance of payment and serves as a primary investment barometer for global enterprises.