Experts gathered Thursday to discuss the past and future of humanitarian aid for North Korea, with the aim of achieving sustainable and efficient support.

Both scholars and experienced hand-on workers argued that the ties between government and civil organizations should be improved, and that there should be a switch to a policy of cooperation rather than simply emergency relief.

“Without a long-term plan for 10-20 years, South Korea doesn’t have an independent policy on (aid) regardless of change of government, and should not treat humanitarian aid as a tool for negotiation with North Korea,” said Lee Joo-seong, the chief of the