<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>3</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-11-01</periodOfReport>
    <noSecuritiesOwned>0</noSecuritiesOwned>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000051434</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>INTERNATIONAL PAPER CO /NEW/</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>IP</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001269708</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>THOMAS W DENNIS</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O INTERNATIONAL PAPER COMPANY</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>400 ATLANTIC STREET</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>STAMFORD</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CT</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>06921</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>0</isDirector><isOfficer>1</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther><officerTitle>Executive Vice President</officerTitle></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><nonDerivativeTable><nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>35194</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeHolding><nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>2521</value><footnoteId id="F1"/><footnoteId id="F2"/></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>By SSP</value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeHolding></nonDerivativeTable><derivativeTable><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Employee Stock Options (right to buy)</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>42.875</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><value>1999-01-14</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2007-01-14</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>5000</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Employee Stock Options (right to buy)</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>41.00</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><value>1999-01-29</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2007-01-29</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>2500</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Employee Stock Options (right to buy)</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>41.9375</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><value>2000-01-13</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2008-01-13</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>205</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Employee Stock Options (right to buy)</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>42.9375</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><value>1998-01-15</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2004-01-11</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>3600</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Employee Stock Options (right to buy)</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>51.00</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><value>2000-04-14</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2008-04-14</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>4795</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Employee Stock Options (right to buy)</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>46.00</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><value>2001-01-12</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2009-01-12</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>8000</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Employee Stock Options (right to buy)</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>62.1875</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><value>2002-01-11</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2010-01-11</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>16000</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Employee Stock Options (right to buy)</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>58.50</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><value>2000-01-11</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2005-01-10</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>3600</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Employee Stock Options (right to buy)</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>58.50</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><value>2000-01-11</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2006-01-09</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock </value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>4000</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Employee Stock Options (right to buy)</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>29.3125</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><value>2002-10-10</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2010-10-10</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>16000</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Employee Stock Options (right to buy)</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>35.05</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><value>2003-04-10</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2011-04-10</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>7000</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Employee Stock Options (right to buy)</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>35.00</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><value>2003-10-09</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2011-10-09</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>8000</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Employee Stock Options (right to buy)</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>41.40</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><value>2004-04-09</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2012-04-09</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>17500</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Employee Stock Options (right to buy)</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>32.54</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><value>2004-10-08</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2012-10-08</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>17500</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Employee Stock Options (right to buy)</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>34.96</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><value>2005-04-08</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2013-04-08</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>17500</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Employee Stock Options (right to buy)</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>39.14</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><value>2005-10-14</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2013-10-14</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>17500</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>0</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><footnoteId id="F2"/></exerciseDate><expirationDate><footnoteId id="F2"/></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>4335</value><footnoteId id="F1"/><footnoteId id="F2"/></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>DCSP</value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding></derivativeTable><footnotes><footnote id="F1">Share numbers are rounded.</footnote><footnote id="F2">Investments in the SSP (International Paper Salaried Savings Plan) and DCSP (International Paper Deferred Compensation Savings Plan) are in a unitized fund of shares and cash.  The investment in the DCSP operates similar to the SSP company stock fund, and the number of units will vary as the price of the Issuer's common stock varies.  Payout of plan is upon retirement.</footnote></footnotes><remarks/><ownerSignature><signatureName>Beth Murphree, Attorney-in-Fact for W. Dennis Thomas</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-11-13</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

