Reports out of South Korea say the communist North has developed a special stealth paint to camouflage its warships, tanks and fighter planes.

The development is detailed in a confidential field manual smuggled out of North Korea by a Christian group.

South Korean media is reporting that Pyongyang has developed a stealth paint which absorbs radar waves.

The camouflage can also reportedly hide tanks and war planes from reconnaissance satellites.

A South Korean intelligence expert has been quoted as saying the North's military has done much more research on stealth tactics than previously thought.

The handbook also reveals that Pyongyang has built a complex network of foxholes and caves.