Radio Free Asia says North Korea has decided to issue temporary visas for Americans tourists interested in visiting North Korea for this year’s Arirang Festival.

The grand-scale event, opening on April 15th, will coincide with what would have been the 95th birthday of the North's late leader Kim Il-sung.

Walter Keats, president of the U.S. travel agency, Asia Pacific Travel, confirmed the report Wednesday, saying that North Korean authorities had notified him of Pyongyang’s decision.

Asia Pacific Travel had gathered some two-hundred-70 American tourists last year for the event which was canceled due to severe damage from torrential summer rains.

North Korea has issued visas for American tourists four times since 1994 following the signing of the Geneva nuclear accord. Pyongyang also allowed Americans to enter when it held the Arirang Festival in 2002 and 2005.

This year’s "mass game" event will run until May 15th before opening again for two months on August 15th.