Northern Star Announces First Gold Pour in the Company's History

Northern Star Mining Corp. (TSX VENTURE:NSM)(OTCQX:NSMSF) (Northern Star Mining
or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has scheduled the first gold
pour in the Company's history for the first week in February. Milling is being
carried out at the Company's wholly owned Beacon Gold Mill, located 13km east of
Val-d'Or. The material being processed is mineralized rock mined from
underground at the Malartic-Midway project which the Company has been actively
exploring and developing since mid 2008 from its underground operations.


The Malartic-Midway project, located 16km west of Val-d'Or, Quebec, consists of
3,142 hectares (7,763 acres) and straddles a section 7km in length along the
Cadillac Tectonic Zone, neighboring the Osisko gold project. The project
includes two former gold producers Malartic Goldfields #1, and Malartic
Goldfields #2 with reported production (1939-1965) of some 1.95 million ounces
of gold to a depth of 3,000 feet.


Drilling by Northern Star in 2006 demonstrated the presence and continuity of
gold mineralization at depth where it encountered 9.41g/t over 21 m at a
vertical depth of some 5,200 feet (previously announced).


In mid 2008, the Company contracted Dumas Ltd, to begin construction of a 5m x
4.7m Decline to explore, access, and bulk sample previously discovered gold
zones, as well as explore for and discover new gold mineralized zones from
underground.


Midway Decline

To date, the Company has advanced the main haulage decline a total 2,370 meters
from the surface portal. The surface portal required the excavation of 7,500 m3
of overburden and bedrock.


A total of 290 meters of remuck bays have been completed.

The South Briar branch of the Midway decline has advanced 332 meters for future
exploration drilling of the South South Briar extension and Mill Porphyry zones.
It is also planned as a second exit and haulage route.


A total of 236 meters of development and exploration drifting was carried out in
the Chabela Zone where 3,000 tons of material were mined and transported to the
Beacon Mill. The Chabela Zone was used as an initial mining method (long hole)
and bulk sample test area.


753 meters of underground development including the construction of 6 drawpoints
below the bottom of the South Briar area have been completed.


Finally, 105 meters of raising for sampling, ventilation, and safety purposes
have been carried out to date.


South Briar

The initial large planned bulk sample from the South Briar Zone (176,000 tonnes
@ 6.03g/t, 43-101 report, Ovalbay Geological Services, 2008) is presently
underway. 6 drawpoints (4m x 4m) have been completed underneath the zone at 130m
(425 level).


Development of the upper level at 110 meter (360 level) consisting of a slot
drift is underway.


Initially, excavation of the zone occurs at the top of the drawpoints in an
undercut slot of approximately 6,000 tonnes prior to long hole drilling of the
South Briar stope.


Underground Exploration

A number of exploration discoveries have been made from underground since onset
of the Decline construction.


Exploration work has been limited due to the construction phase of the Decline
and the need to access the gold mineralized zones as soon as possible.


However, underground drilling can now be accelerated on the numerous targets
under exploration.


These include the South South Briar Extension, the L and K zones and the new
porphyry/gabbro zone discovered in October 2009.


This latter zone was discovered during decline construction when a mineralized
porphyry was encountered. A cross drift some 108 meters long was pushed into the
porphyry, which resulted in the discovery of a new gabbro mineralized zone. Grab
and muck samples from the muck haulage trucks averaged a cut grade of 14.8g/t
over a true width of 4.5 meters. Approximately 1,000 tons were sampled from this
area prior to further definition drilling and drifting.


As the exploration drift progressed it encountered quartz veins in porphyry with
sections of significant visible gold.


This zone is located some 250 meters NNW of the South Briar zone, presently
under development.


Recently an underground drill hole located 70 meters north of the Briar Zone
intersected a 4 meter wide gabbro showing significant sulphide mineralization,
located some 100 meters below at 230 meter (750 level). Assays are pending.


Finally, other underground exploration targets include the Blake River group
extension located some 150 meters north of the Decline, South Briar extension
adjacent to the Mill porphyry, and the Chabela depth extensions will be
evaluated and tested.


Beacon Mill

The wholly owned Beacon Mill was started up on November 23, 2009. A series of
start up delays occurred while bedding and tuning the mill, compounded by the
very cold weather experienced in late December. At present the mill is running
more continuously and smoothly and should reach its continuous rated capacity
shortly.


The tonnage presently being processed at the mill consists of Chabela and
porphyry mineralization, development material, mineralization sampled from the
new discovery, and drawpoint mineralization.


McKenzie Break

At the McKenzie Break project, surface installation and mobilization is
complete. Portal construction, rock bolting, and screening was completed on
January 6.


Underground Decline construction has begun and presently the decline has
advanced some 30 meters. The initial target zone for bulk sampling is located
some 100 meters from the portal entrance.


Surface diamond drilling is also currently underway.

Callahan

The 2009 surface drilling program on the Callahan project is now complete. 14
holes for a total of 4,150 meters were drilled. Assay results are pending.


Michel David, president states "The Company has now reached an important
milestone in its growth and development. A first gold pour is an important
historic event, and the management and personnel at Northern Star are proud to
have reached this point accident and injury free. The start up of a second
underground project at McKenzie Break, and the successful but difficult start up
of our mill all in the same period demonstrate the competence and devotion of
our employees, contractors, and associated personnel. The new discoveries
underground at Malartic-Midway clearly demonstrate the future potential of this
project, located as it is in the heart of the historic Val-d'Or gold camp and
immediately neighbour to the Osisko gold project, now under development with
total announced resources of some 11.2 million ounces".


Eugene Gauthier, Ing (OIQ), acts as the qualified person of the Company and has
reviewed the contents of the news release. The diamond drilling and exploration
programs are being carried out under the direct supervision of Eugene Gauthier,
Ing (OIQ). The Company is maintaining strict standards for QA (quality
assurance) and QC (quality control); by keeping under lock all drill cores,
rejects and pulps for further testing. Samples were sent to ALS Chemex and
Techni-Lab labs in Val d'Or, Quebec. High grade assays intersections were
subject to total gold metallic sieve method in addition to the standard fire
assay and AA finish.


ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD

Michel David, President

This press release contains certain "Forward-Looking Statements" within the
meaning of Section 21E of the United States Security Exchange Act of 1934, and
involves a number of risks and uncertainties. Important factors that could cause
actual results to differ materially from the Company's expectations are
disclosed in the Company's documents filed from time to time with the TSX
Venture Exchange and the British Columbia Securities Commission. All statements,
other than of historical fact, included herein are forward-looking statements
that involve various risks and uncertainties. There can be no assurance that
such statements will prove to be accurate, and actual results and future events
could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements.