Japanese media report that North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has ordered the collection of information on science and technology through the Internet.

Japanese news outlets made the report, quoting Radio Press, a Japan-based agency that monitors and analyzes information from overseas.

Radio Press said that Kim ordered North Korea to gather a lot of advanced foreign science and technology materials through the Internet and send science delegations to other countries.

Japanese media say Kim's order could lead North Korea to ease tough controls on online access to foreign Web sites.