United Nations agencies and local and foreign non-governmental organizations say assistance to North Korea should stress development rather than humanitarian aid.

The groups in Beijing presented a written proposal to that effect Tuesday after wrapping up the fourth global NGO conference on humanitarian aid to the North.

They stressed that humanitarian aid is still needed given the North's chronic food shortage and dire medical condition, but that international assistance should ultimately focus on development.

Some 50 members from 25 local NGOs and another 54 foreign representatives attended the conference, which began Saturday.