NovaGold Appoints New Director to Board

NovaGold Resources Inc. (TSX: NG)(AMEX: NG) today announced the appointment of a new director to its Board. NovaGold shareholders voted Mr. Tony Giardini to the Board of Directors at NovaGold’s Annual General Meeting held today in Vancouver. Mr. Giardini was subsequently appointed to the Audit Committee to replace Mr. Mike Halvorson, who is retiring from the Board.

Mr. Giardini is Chief Financial Officer of Ivanhoe Mines Ltd., an international mining company listed on the TSX and the NYSE, with operations focused in Central Asia and the Asia Pacific region. Prior to joining Ivanhoe, Mr. Giardini spent more than 10 years with Placer Dome Inc. as Vice-President and Treasurer, responsible for managing and overseeing the company’s debt and capital market activities, including managing banking relationships with US, Canadian and international banks. During his time at Placer Dome, Mr. Giardini led the financing team that raised in excess of US$1 billion in debt and equity financings. Mr. Giardini is a CA and CPA and spent 12 years with accounting firm KPMG prior to joining Placer Dome. Mr. Giardini’s finance and accounting experience will be invaluable as NovaGold advances Donlin Creek and Galore Creek through feasibility and toward operations. Mr. Giardini replaces Mr. Mike Halvorson on NovaGold’s Board of Directors.

“Since joining NovaGold’s Board in 2004, Mr. Halvorson’s financial expertise and his knowledge of the junior mining sector has been instrumental in guiding NovaGold’s transition from explorer to producer,” said Rick Van Nieuwenhuyse, NovaGold’s President and CEO. “I would like to personally thank Mr. Halvorson for his contributions to NovaGold’s Board, and wish him well in his future endeavors.”

NovaGold’s Board of Directors comprises eight individuals with expertise in a variety of disciplines, including accounting, finance, legal, business and the resource industry. A bio for each Director can be viewed on NovaGold’s website in the Corporate Info page.

About NovaGold

NovaGold is a precious metals company engaged in the exploration and development of mineral properties in Alaska and Western Canada. Production is scheduled for 2008 at the 100%-owned Nome Operations in Alaska, which includes the Rock Creek, Big Hurrah and Nome Gold deposits. NovaGold owns 50% of the Donlin Creek gold project in Alaska, one of the world’s largest gold deposits, with Barrick Gold (50%). The Company also owns 50% of the Galore Creek copper-gold-silver project in British Columbia with Teck Cominco (50%). Also in Alaska, NovaGold is earning a 51% interest as manager of the high-grade Ambler copper-zinc-silver-gold project in partnership with Rio Tinto. NovaGold has one of the largest resource bases of any exploration or development-stage precious metals company. NovaGold trades on the TSX and AMEX under the symbol NG. More information is available online at www.novagold.net or by e-mail at info@novagold.net.

Cautionary Note Concerning Forward-Looking Statements

This press release includes certain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein including, without limitation; anticipated dates for receipt of permits and approvals, construction and production, and other milestones; anticipated results of drilling programs, feasibility studies and other analyses; anticipated availability and terms of future financing; estimated timing and amounts of future expenditures, and NovaGold’s future production, operating and capital costs, operating or financial performance, are forward-looking statements. Information concerning mineral reserve and resource estimates also may be deemed to be forward-looking statements in that it reflects a prediction of the mineralization that would be encountered if a mineral deposit were developed and mined. Forward-looking statements 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. NovaGold’s forward-looking statements are based on the beliefs, expectations and opinions of management on the date the statements are made, and NovaGold does not assume any obligation to update forward-looking statements if circumstances or management’s beliefs, expectations or opinions should change except as required by law. For the reasons set forth above, investors should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements.

Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from NovaGold’s expectations include uncertainties involved in disputes and litigation; fluctuations in gold, copper and other commodity prices and currency exchange rates; uncertainties relating to interpretation of drill results and the geology, continuity and grade of mineral deposits; uncertainty of estimates of capital and operating costs, recovery rates, production estimates and estimated economic return; the need for cooperation of government agencies and native groups in the exploration and development of properties and the issuance of required permits; the need to obtain additional financing to develop properties and uncertainty as to the availability and terms of future financing; the possibility of delay in exploration or development programs or in construction projects and uncertainty of meeting anticipated program milestones; uncertainty as to timely availability of permits and other governmental approvals; and other risks and uncertainties disclosed in NovaGold’s Annual Information Form for the year ended November 30, 2007, filed with the Canadian securities regulatory authorities, NovaGold’s annual report on Form 40-F filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission, and other information released by NovaGold from time to time and filed with the appropriate regulatory agencies.

 Contacts: NovaGold Resources Inc. Greg Johnson, Vice President, Corporate Communications and Strategic Development (604) 669-6227 or 1-866-669-6227  NovaGold Resources Inc. Rhylin Bailie Manager, Corporate & Investor Relations (604) 669-6227 or 1-866-669-6227 Website: www.novagold.net

SOURCE: NovaGold Resources Inc.