South Korea is keen on kicking off discussions on ending the state of war with the North during next week’s inter-Korean summit. "We are looking at the possibility of replacing the armistice regime on the Korean peninsula with a peace regime," a senior official at the presidential Blue House told reporters. "But this is not something we can do by ourselves. It needs close discussions with relevant parties including North Korea." The 1950-53 Korean War ended in an armistice rather than a peace treaty, leaving the two sides technically at war. The Demilitarized Zone between them bristles with minefields and fortifications. The official’s comments came after US President Donald Trump said that the summit between North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and the Souths President Moon Jae-in could, with his "blessing", discuss a peace treaty to formally close the conflict. But while the US-led United Nations command, China and North Korea are signatories to the decades-old armistice, South Korea is not. Reaching any final treaty would be fraught with complications. Both Pyongyang and Seoul claim sovereignty over the whole Korean peninsula, but a treaty could imply mutual recognition of each other. The North would be likely to demand the withdrawal of US troops, while the Souths national security adviser Chung Eui-yong said Wednesday that Seoul and Washington wanted to see Pyongyang give up its nuclear ambitions. In meetings with his newly-appointed US counterpart John Bolton, the two had discussed ways to "establish an ultimate peace regime", but only if the North "makes the correct decision", he said. Pyongyang has in the past demanded a peace treaty with the US, describing them as the two direct parties in the conflict. "South Korea is a direct party. Who can argue that?" the Blue House official said. The two Koreas could first reach an agreement which would be followed by a meeting between Kim and Trump and a trilateral summit to seal the deal, he suggested. But four-party talks could also be needed, he added, in a reference to China. But he cautioned "I am not sure if we will use the expression ending the war" at the summit. "We want to reach an agreement on banning hostile activities between the South and North," he added. The two Koreas will hold what will be their third summit since the 1950-53 Korean War next Friday, with a subsequent meeting planned between Kim and Trump -- which would be the first time a sitting US president had met the Norths leader. Meanwhile, it was revealed that CIA Director Mike Pompeo recently traveled to North Korea to meet with Kim, a highly unusual, secret visit undertaken as the enemy nations prepared for a potential meeting between their two leaders later this year. Trump confirmed the trip on Wednesday. He said that the two officials formed a “good relationship” when they met in secret. Pompeo became the most senior US official known to have met Kim. The Washington Post, which first reported Pompeos meeting with Kim, said it took place over Easter weekend — just over two weeks ago, shortly after the CIA chief was nominated to become secretary of state. "Mike Pompeo met with Kim Jong Un in North Korea last week. Meeting went very smoothly and a good relationship was formed. Details of Summit are being worked out now. Denuclearization will be a great thing for World, but also for North Korea!" Trump said on Twitter. Trump, who was hosting Japans Prime Minister Shinzo Abe at his Florida estate, said earlier that the US and North Korea were holding direct talks at "extremely high levels" in preparation for a possible summit with Kim. He said five locations were under consideration for the meeting, which was slated to take place by early June. White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said Trump and Kim had not spoken directly.