South Korea's Unification Ministry says a second attempt to send five North Korean sailors back home has failed.

The South Korean Coast Guard rescued the five from their vessel drifting near Dokdo in the East Sea on Monday.

Unification Ministry Spokesman Jeong Joon-hee said the government was hoping to return the sailors over the Panmunjeom border crossing Thursday, but received no response from the North side. 

A second South Korean attempt to reach the North via the United Nations Military Armistice Commission Friday also failed to receive a response.