Northern Dynasty Announces Changes to the Board & Management Team

Northern Dynasty Minerals Ltd. (TSX: NDM)(AMEX: NAK) ("Northern Dynasty" or the "Company") announces the appointment of Marchand Snyman as Chief Financial Officer and Director of the Company and the election of Russell Hallbauer as a Director of the Company.

Marchand Snyman is a Chartered Accountant with over 14 years of experience. He was a director of Muratie Investments Pty Limited between 2003 and 2006, an Australian mining consultancy providing advisory services to businesses in Australia, China, South Africa and the USA. Mr. Snyman was General Manager Corporate Finance and Development for Anglo Platinum Limited, the world's premier platinum producer, from 1999-2002, responsible for managing diverse projects including joint venture negotiations, corporate tax structures and offshore corporate operations, having joined Anglo Platinum in 1996 as Corporate Finance Manager. Prior to that, he was a senior financial advisor for a multi-modal transportation company in South Africa. He has been Vice President, Corporate Development for Hunter Dickinson Inc. since 2006.

Russell Hallbauer is professional engineer and mining executive with over 30 years of industry experience, encompassing both open pit and underground operations. He is President and CEO of Taseko Mines Limited. Under his direction, Taseko is currently completing a three phase expansion project at its Gibraltar mine in south-central British Columbia. Taseko's Prosperity Project was advanced through feasibility in 2007 and is currently in the permitting stage. Prior to joining Taseko in 2005, Mr Hallbauer was General Manager of Base Metal Joint Ventures at Teck Cominco Ltd. In that role, he served as Chairman of the Management Committee for the Highland Valley open pit copper mine in Canada. His responsibilities also included chairing the Joint Venture Operating Committee for Compania Minera Antamina, the joint venture between BHP Billiton, Noranda, Teck Cominco and Mitsubishi that operates the Antamina zinc-copper mine in Peru. Prior to that, Mr. Hallbauer was Teck Cominco's General Manager of Coal Operations, responsible for Bullmoose, Quintette and Elkview operations, three of the largest metallurgical coal mines in western Canada.

Mr. Snyman replaces Jeffrey Mason, who retired from the Board of Directors and the position of Chief Financial Officer of the Company, effective August 1, 2008.

President and CEO Ronald Thiessen commented, "On behalf of the Board, I would like to thank Jeffrey and acknowledge his efforts over the past 12 years. An important member of senior management, Jeffrey led the financial reporting team and provided other key support that contributed significantly to the advancement of the Company and its Pebble copper-gold-molybdenum project in Alaska."

For further details on Northern Dynasty and the Pebble Project, please visit the Company's website at www.northerndynastyminerals.com or contact Investor Services at (604) 684-6365 or within North America at 1-800-667-2114.

Ronald Thiessen, President and CEO

No regulatory authority accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Contacts: Northern Dynasty Minerals Ltd. Shawn Wallace Investor Services (604) 684-6365 or Toll Free: 1-800-667-2114 (604) 684-8092 (FAX) Website: www.northerndynastyminerals.com