Northern Empire Minerals Ltd. ("Northern Empire") (TSXV: NEM) has been advised by its Joint Venture partner Ashton Mining of Canada that the winter drill program has been completed on its 30% owned Kikerk Lake project located in the Coronation Gulf region of Nunavut.

The winter program announced on March 7 was designed to test three electromagnetic anomalies associated with indicator mineral dispersion trains. At one anomaly, two angle holes drilled at inclinations of 46 degrees and 65 degrees from horizontal intersected approximately 0.6 m and 0.3 m of kimberlite respectively. This anomaly is located about 1.2 km west of the Stellaria kimberlite associated with a 2 km long linear structure. No kimberlite was intersected at the other two anomalies.

Exploration on the Kikerk Lake property will continue during the summer. Field activities will include follow-up on a number of unexplained indicator mineral and geophysical anomalies through heavy mineral sampling, ground geophysical surveys and prospecting.

Exploration on the Kikerk Lake property is governed by an option and joint venture agreement among Ashton, Caledonia Mining Corporation ("Caledonia") and Northern Empire Minerals Ltd. Ashton has a 52.5 percent interest in the property and has exercised an option with Caledonia to increase its interest to 59.5 percent. Northern Empire has a 30 percent participating interest and is funding its share of the current program. The program is under the direct supervision of Brooke Clements, Exploration Manager, Ashton Mining of Canada.

Dean Besserer of Apex Geoscience Ltd. has been retained by Northern Empire Minerals Ltd. to conduct an independent review of the Kikerk Project in accordance with National Policy Instrument 43-101. Northern Empire Minerals Ltd. is a leader in the Canadian diamond exploration community with an
aggressive acquisition and development philosophy. The Company holds one of Canada's most prospective diamond exploration property portfolios totaling more than 10 million acres. The Company is a well-funded exploration company with 16 diamond properties in Nunavut, the Northwest Territories and Quebec.

On behalf of the Board
NORTHERN EMPIRE MINERALS LTD.
/s/ "John Robins"
John E. Robins, P. Geo
President

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