Great Northern Gold Exploration Corporation Commences January 2013 Drilling Program

VANCOUVER, Jan. 24, 2013 - Great Northern Gold Exploration Corporation, ("Great Northern Gold" or the "Company") announced that it has commenced drilling on its Wekusko Gold Property in Northern Manitoba. Bodnar Drilling Ltd. of Ste. Rose du Lac, Manitoba has been contracted to complete the drill program.

During the month of November 2012, 468 infill Mobile Metal Ion ("MMI") geochemistry samples were taken on anomalies and extensions along strike of the earlier detected anomalous trends on the McCafferty Grid. To date, 1,613 MMI geochemical samples have been completed on the McCafferty Grid, with a total of 2,279 MMI geochemical samples completed on three grids on the Wekusko Gold Property. The 468 new samples were analyzed by SGS Laboratories in Toronto and the results were plotted and reviewed in final preparation for the January 2013 drill program.

The drilling program of approximately 2,000 meters is expected to comprise 20 to 30 drill holes. The drill program will test numerous gold targets on the one kilometer by three kilometer (1km x 3km) McCafferty Grid. The McCafferty gold-bearing quartz vein is exposed on the grid in a series of trenches and two shafts over a strike length of 350 meters. To date, the MMI data was successful in locating the McCafferty vein, identifying a number of new gold anomalies trending parallel or sub-parallel to the McCafferty vein, and a number of additional multi-line, multi-element anomalies. The November 2012 MMI sampling extended the anomalous trend 300 meters southwest of previous sampling. All drill targets are selected based on multidisciplinary techniques including geological mapping, MMI geochemistry, and data from previous work including ground and airborne Electro Magnetic ("EM") geophysics.

The previously planned two test drill holes on the Elizabeth-Dauphin grid, have been postponed to allow testing of two additional targets on the McCafferty grid this winter. The two postponed drill holes were to test gold targets on the one kilometer by 400 meter (1km x 0.4km) Elizabeth - Dauphin Grid, located approximately 2 kilometers northeast of the past producing Rex-Laguna gold mine.

The Company's drill program is targeting the potential for larger tonnage epigenetic mesothermal gold deposits located in shear zones below the glacial till cover. The winter program allows for lower drilling costs as equipment and supplies can be transported across the frozen Wekusko Lake to the Wekusko Gold Property, instead of being mobilized by helicopter to the site.

"Our team, led by Dan Ziehlke, is working hard to add value to the Wekusko Gold Property, using their extensive knowledge gained over more than 25 years in the region to target drill holes on high priority gold anomalies," said Mr. Kim Oishi, CEO of Great Northern Gold. "This program will help us determine the potential for economic gold mineralization on the McCafferty Grid. The area we are drill testing with this initial program is only 3 km2 of the approximately 89 km2 Wekusko Gold Property, but it hosts strong MMI geochemical anomalies, gold-bearing quartz veins and shear zones under the glacial till with the potential for gold mineralization."

As set out in the Company's NI 43-101 Technical Report dated May 12, 2012 and filed on SEDAR, the Wekusko Gold Property hosts historic and recent discoveries of moderate to high grade gold mineralization in near surface quartz veins. Prospecting and geochemical work north of the high grade Ferro and Rex Laguna trending belts indicate potential for Snow Lake/Britannia type of larger tonnage, lower grade gold deposits. To date, the New Britannia deposit at Snow Lake has produced 1,428,290 ounces of gold recovered from 12,124,449 tons milled for a recovery grade of 0.117 oz/ton.

Daniel Ziehlke, VP of Exploration for Great Northern Gold, is the Company's Qualified Person under the definition of NI 43-101, and has reviewed this press release for accuracy and compliance with NI 43-101. Information relating to adjacent properties has not been verified by Great Northern Gold and is not necessarily indicative of the mineralization on the Wekusko Gold Property. The Wekusko Gold Property is an early-stage mineral property and does not contain a resource defined by NI 43-101.


About Mobile Metal Ion (MMI™) Geochemistry

MMI geochemistry technology is owned by SGS (www.sgs.com/geochem), a leading inspection, verification, testing and certification company. According to SGS, Mobile Metal Ion (MMI™) geochemistry is a proven advanced geochemical exploration technique known to find mineral deposits. It is especially well suited for deeply buried mineral deposits. MMI measures metal ions that travel upward from mineralization to unconsolidated surface materials such soil, till, sand and so on. These mobile metal ions are released from mineralized material and travel upward toward the surface. Using careful soil sampling strategies, sophisticated chemical ligands and ultra sensitive instrumentation, SGS is able to measure these ions. After interpretation, MMI data can indicate anomalous areas. Please see the SGS website www.sgs.com/geochem for more details and case studies.


ABOUT GREAT NORTHERN GOLD EXPLORATION CORPORATION

Great Northern Gold is a gold exploration company operating in Northern Canada and has an option to earn a 100% undivided interest in the property known as the Wekusko Property located 23 kilometers southeast of Snow Lake, Manitoba and comprising 55 mineral claims totaling approximately 8,880 hectares. Great Northern Gold has also entered into a Property Option Agreement to earn a 100% undivided interest in the property known as the Ferro Mine Property located 23 kilometers southeast of Snow Lake, Manitoba and east of Wekusko Lake, Manitoba.


Capitalization:

Number of common shares outstanding: 20,220,867
Number of fully diluted shares outstanding: 24,507,533


STATEMENTS IN THIS PRESS RELEASE REGARDING THE COMPANY'S BUSINESS WHICH ARE NOT HISTORICAL FACTS ARE "FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS" THAT INVOLVE RISKS AND UNCERTAINTIES, SUCH AS ESTIMATES AND STATEMENTS THAT DESCRIBE THE COMPANY'S FUTURE PLANS, OBJECTIVES OR GOALS, INCLUDING WORDS TO THE EFFECT THAT THE COMPANY OR MANAGEMENT EXPECTS A STATED CONDITION OR RESULT TO OCCUR. SINCE FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS ADDRESS FUTURE EVENTS AND CONDITIONS, BY THEIR VERY NATURE, THEY INVOLVE INHERENT RISKS AND UNCERTAINTIES. ACTUAL RESULTS IN EACH CASE COULD DIFFER MATERIALLY FROM THOSE CURRENTLY ANTICIPATED IN SUCH STATEMENTS. THE COMPANY DOES NOT ASSUME ANY OBLIGATION TO UPDATE OR REVISE EVENTS OR CIRCUMSTANCES UNLESS REQUIRED BY APPLICABLE SECURITIES LAWS.

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For further information:

please contact: Kim Oishi, CEO
Great Northern Gold Exploration Corporation
T: (604) 683-8393
Email: koishi@greatnortherngold.com