Korea failed for the second straight time to auction off baby food originally intended for North Korean children, an official said Friday.
Korea prepared 830,000 packs of baby food as part of its 5 billion won ($4.4 million) in emergency relief aid to North Korean flood victims earlier this year.
In October, South Korea dropped the offer due to disagreement with North Korea on the items to be sent. South Korea had insisted upon delivering baby food, biscuits and instant noodles to the North, instead of the cement and equipment requested by its impoverished neighbor.
South Korea has since decided to auction off 540,000 packs while donating 190,000 out of the remaining 290,000 packs to flood victims in El Salvador.
There were no bids in either of the two auctions, however, prompting Korea to hold consultations with foreign countries to discuss details for the donation of the 540,000 packs, the official said.
He also said the government will decide whether to issue a third public notice by taking into account the outcome of consultations.
The official said separate talks have been also under way over the best method for donating another 100,000 packs of baby food. (Yonhap)