Vancouver, British Columbia, November 4^th, 2026 - Nickel North Exploration Corp. ("Nickel North" or the "Company") (TSX-V: NNX) is pleased to report assay results from the re-logging and re-sampling of historical drill core at its 100%-owned Hawk Ridge Copper-Nickel-PGE-Gold Project (“Hawk Ridge”) in Nunavik, northern Quebec. The results confirm the historical copper and nickel assays and, for the first time on most of these holes, provide platinum, palladium, gold, copper, nickel, cobalt, iron and sulphur values.

A total of 153 core samples over 194 meter length, were taken from nine drill holes: HR 96-12, HR 96-13 and HR 96-29 at the Hopes Advance Main and North Zones; HR 96-53 and HR 97-100 at the Schindler Zone; HR 96-92 at the Pio North Zone; HR 12-07 and HR 13-14 at the Hopes Advance Main Zone; and HR 13-08 at the Bay and Fold target (Figure 1). The 1996 and 1997 holes were drilled by a previous operator, Troymin Resources Ltd.; the 2012 and 2013 holes were drilled by Nickel North. The core was re-logged, re-sampled and assayed at AGAT Laboratories (Calgary, Alberta), an accredited laboratory independent of the Company, by fire assay with ICP-OES finish for gold, platinum and palladium (trace-level package) and by four-acid digestion with ICP-OES finish for the multi-element package.

The program provides measured platinum, palladium, gold, copper, nickel, cobalt, iron and sulphur values on intervals where the 2023 Mineral Resource Estimate relied on regressed values, and forms part of the data preparation for a Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA) report of the Hawk Ridge Project.

Highlights

50. Thick copper mineralization at Hopes Advance Main - HR 96-12 (Hopes Advance Main) yielded 23.4 m grading 0.58% Cu, 0.21% Ni, 0.27 g/t Pd+Pt and 0.04 g/t Au from 61.0 m to 84.4 m. The 1996 assays over the same interval returned 0.56% Cu and 0.21% Ni; platinum, palladium and gold were not assayed in 1996.
50. High-grade copper within a broad zone - HR 97-100 (Gamma-Schindler) resulted in 19.3 m grading 0.60% Cu, 0.22% Ni, 0.48 g/t Pd+Pt and 0.05 g/t Au from 208.0 m to 227.3 m, including 1.3 m grading 2.22% Cu, 0.22% Ni, 4.17 g/t Pd+Pt and 0.17 g/t Au from 208.0 m to 209.3 m. The 1997 assays over the same 19.3 m interval returned 0.78% Cu and 0.29% Ni; platinum, palladium and gold were not assayed in 1997. The 4.17 g/t Pd+Pt sample is the highest combined platinum-palladium value recorded from all drill core at Hawk Ridge to date.
50. New gold intercept at Pio North - HR 96-92 (Pio North) resulted in a new gold intercept of 2.0 m grading 0.96 g/t Au from 89.6 m to 91.6 m, including 1.0 m grading 1.51 g/t Au, hosted in massive pyrrhotite (approximately 20% Fe, greater than 10% S) with 0.08% Cu and 0.03% Ni. Gold was not assayed on this hole in 1996.
50. Across all nine holes the 2026 copper and nickel results reproduce the historical assays within the range expected for re-sampling of split historical core, confirming the reliability of the historical database.
    

Figure 1. Hawk Ridge Project, location of drill holes re-sampled in 2026.

Tony Guo, P.Geo., Chief Executive Officer of Nickel North, commented: "These results achieve two key objectives: they validate historical copper and nickel assays at Hawk Ridge, and they introduce new measured platinum, palladium and gold values, with PGE up to 4.17 g/t and gold up to 1.51 g/t, on intervals where those metals had never been assayed. Much of the core re-sampled in this program was drilled in the decades ago, when gold, platinum and palladium were not assayed on many of these intervals. Modern assaying has now given us measured values up to 4.17 g/t Pd + Pt and 1.51 g/t Au, alongside 2.22% Cu over 1.3 m, where our 2022 Mineral Resource Estimate relied on regressed values. With copper and gold prices well above previous levels, we believe this strengthens the case for updating the MRE and advancing the project toward a Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA) at Hawk Ridge”."

Sampling, Analysis and QA/QC

Historical drill core from the Hawk Ridge Project has been stored on site at Hawk Ridge since the original drilling campaigns and is in pretty well condition (Figure 2). As part of the 2026 program, project geologists identified each drill hole by ID, depth, and interval, and conducted updated geological and structural core logging.

Following logging, the core was systematically re-sampled at intervals ranging from 1.0 meter to 1.5 meters. Each individual core sample was placed in a clear poly bag accompanied by a unique lab waterproof sample tag and subsequently packed into heavy-duty rice bags with approximately 15 sample bags per rice bag for secure transport.  Strict chain of custody protocols was maintained by the Project Geologist throughout transport. All sample batches were shipped via air cargo and submitted directly to AGAT Laboratories in Montreal, Quebec.

During the analytical process, a rigorous QA/QC program was applied, including the insertion of repeats, and duplicates. Certified Reference Materials (CRMs) including OREAS 85, OREAS 243, and OREAS 264 were inserted into the sample stream to evaluate laboratory accuracy and precision. QA/QC review confirmed that all standard and duplicate performance met acceptable industry standards for data verification and resource modeling. Reported intervals are drill-hole lengths; true thicknesses have not been determined. Composite grades are length-weighted averages of the individual samples. Values reported by the laboratory above the upper detection limit for sulphur (10%) have been assigned the limit value in the composites. Pd+Pt is the arithmetic sum of palladium and platinum grades.

Figure 2, Historical Drill Cores Stored on Site for Hawk Ridge Project
 

Table 1. Selected 2026 re-assay results, Hawk Ridge Project

Hole ID	From (m)	To (m)	Length (m)	Au (g/t)	Pd (g/t)	Pt (g/t)	Cu (%)	Ni (%)	Co (%)	Fe (%)	S (%)
HR 96-12	61.00	62.00	1.00	0.026	0.238	0.031	0.34	0.16	0.011	10.0	0.77
HR 96-12	62.00	63.00	1.00	0.035	0.232	0.042	0.52	0.19	0.009	6.9	1.69
HR 96-12	63.00	64.00	1.00	0.042	0.262	0.057	0.51	0.23	0.010	6.9	2.00
HR 96-12	64.00	65.00	1.00	0.035	0.323	0.068	0.65	0.23	0.010	7.0	2.28
HR 96-12	65.00	66.00	1.00	0.020	0.309	0.064	0.60	0.24	0.011	7.8	2.42
HR 96-12	66.00	67.00	1.00	0.024	0.202	0.036	0.44	0.18	0.008	6.7	1.61
HR 96-12	67.00	68.00	1.00	0.029	0.187	0.033	0.41	0.18	0.008	6.9	1.64
HR 96-12	68.00	69.00	1.00	0.025	0.222	0.046	0.51	0.23	0.009	7.6	1.70
HR 96-12	69.00	70.00	1.00	0.039	0.293	0.064	0.64	0.25	0.010	7.1	2.02
HR 96-12	70.00	71.00	1.00	0.078	0.227	0.066	0.78	0.19	0.008	7.5	1.87
HR 96-12	71.00	72.00	1.00	0.024	0.194	0.053	0.50	0.21	0.009	8.2	1.56
HR 96-12	72.00	73.00	1.00	0.028	0.219	0.050	0.62	0.23	0.010	8.2	1.88
HR 96-12	73.00	74.00	1.00	0.037	0.229	0.063	0.65	0.24	0.011	9.4	1.87
HR 96-12	74.00	75.00	1.00	0.018	0.174	0.031	0.45	0.25	0.011	7.4	1.61
HR 96-12	75.00	76.00	1.00	0.018	0.133	0.023	0.41	0.21	0.009	8.1	1.57
HR 96-12	76.00	77.00	1.00	0.025	0.167	0.045	0.48	0.19	0.009	8.1	1.58
HR 96-12	77.00	78.00	1.00	0.030	0.246	0.039	0.66	0.25	0.011	9.2	2.23
HR 96-12	78.00	79.00	1.00	0.020	0.246	0.038	0.82	0.24	0.011	8.7	2.42
HR 96-12	79.00	80.00	1.00	0.107	0.311	0.061	1.16	0.26	0.012	9.7	2.58
HR 96-12	80.00	81.00	1.00	0.172	0.161	0.041	0.51	0.20	0.008	8.8	1.63
HR 96-12	81.00	82.00	1.00	0.040	0.211	0.048	0.74	0.16	0.006	8.0	1.51
HR 96-12	82.00	83.00	1.00	0.032	0.264	0.082	0.73	0.21	0.008	8.3	1.80
HR 96-12	83.00	84.40	1.40	0.024	0.122	0.033	0.40	0.09	0.005	6.8	0.88
HR 97-100	197.80	199.30	1.50	0.253	0.259	0.054	0.63	0.15	0.011	11.2	0.70
HR 97-100	199.30	200.80	1.50	0.039	0.308	0.068	0.59	0.17	0.011	10.8	1.23
HR 97-100	200.80	202.30	1.50	0.033	0.167	0.035	0.42	0.15	0.007	6.5	0.66
HR 97-100	202.30	203.70	1.40	0.033	0.200	0.058	0.56	0.19	0.007	6.0	1.37
HR 97-100	203.70	205.20	1.50	0.036	0.285	0.059	0.58	0.22	0.008	7.0	1.73
HR 97-100	205.20	206.60	1.40	0.028	0.160	0.046	0.65	0.21	0.009	8.3	1.79
HR 97-100	206.60	208.00	1.40	0.129	0.260	0.063	0.99	0.22	0.009	7.7	1.92
HR 97-100	208.00	209.30	1.30	0.167	4.081	0.090	2.22	0.22	0.042	8.2	2.85
HR 97-100	209.30	210.80	1.50	0.059	0.318	0.104	0.72	0.42	0.014	9.8	2.74
HR 97-100	210.80	212.30	1.50	0.056	0.356	0.078	0.73	0.52	0.017	11.1	3.31
HR 97-100	212.30	213.80	1.50	0.054	0.292	0.064	0.56	0.36	0.013	8.3	2.20
HR 97-100	213.80	215.30	1.50	0.105	0.202	0.046	0.63	0.19	0.008	7.1	1.70
HR 97-100	215.30	216.80	1.50	0.035	0.190	0.069	0.66	0.20	0.008	7.6	1.63
HR 97-100	216.80	218.30	1.50	0.013	0.051	0.011	0.23	0.06	0.004	5.1	0.64
HR 97-100	218.30	219.80	1.50	0.020	0.079	0.010	0.30	0.09	0.005	5.5	0.89
HR 97-100	219.80	221.30	1.50	0.011	0.044	0.014	0.14	0.03	0.003	5.1	0.32
HR 97-100	221.30	222.80	1.50	0.048	0.137	0.037	0.49	0.18	0.008	7.1	1.60
HR 97-100	222.80	224.30	1.50	0.043	0.144	0.037	0.52	0.20	0.007	6.7	1.79
HR 97-100	224.30	225.80	1.50	0.042	0.145	0.041	0.51	0.25	0.009	7.8	1.98
HR 97-100	225.80	227.30	1.50	0.024	0.098	0.030	0.36	0.16	0.006	6.5	1.31
HR 96-92	75.90	77.00	1.10	0.003	0.001	0.005	0.16	0.09	0.004	20.4	>10.0
HR 96-92	80.50	81.50	1.00	0.002	0.001	0.005	0.16	0.07	0.002	20.2	>10.0
HR 96-92	81.50	82.50	1.00	0.011	0.011	0.005	0.12	0.05	0.005	20.0	>10.0
HR 96-92	82.50	83.50	1.00	0.047	0.054	0.005	0.09	0.04	0.014	19.6	>10.0
HR 96-92	83.50	84.50	1.00	0.025	0.024	0.005	0.08	0.03	0.015	19.6	>10.0
HR 96-92	84.50	85.20	0.70	0.029	0.024	0.005	0.10	0.04	0.015	19.6	>10.0
HR 96-92	85.20	85.90	0.70	0.009	0.005	0.005	0.10	0.03	0.009	19.5	>10.0
HR 96-92	89.60	90.60	1.00	1.506	0.007	0.005	0.07	0.03	0.005	19.7	>10.0
HR 96-92	90.60	91.60	1.00	0.419	0.001	0.005	0.10	0.04	0.000	20.1	>10.0
HR 12-07	121.35	122.30	0.95	0.007	0.015	0.009	0.09	0.02	0.010	17.0	7.89
HR 12-07	122.30	123.30	1.00	0.008	0.013	0.005	0.18	0.02	0.008	16.9	7.89
HR 12-07	123.30	125.20	1.90	0.016	0.009	0.005	0.35	0.01	0.009	14.9	7.66
HR 12-07	125.20	126.20	1.00	0.009	0.006	0.005	0.22	0.01	0.007	15.9	7.59
HR 12-07	126.20	127.20	1.00	0.006	0.007	0.005	0.13	0.01	0.004	16.0	7.12
HR 12-07	127.20	128.20	1.00	0.007	0.004	0.005	0.18	0.01	0.003	14.0	6.12
HR 12-07	128.20	129.20	1.00	0.007	0.005	0.006	0.09	0.01	0.004	13.5	5.49
HR 12-07	129.20	130.15	0.95	0.007	0.006	0.012	0.10	0.01	0.004	13.7	5.92
HR 12-07	130.15	131.00	0.85	0.009	0.003	0.005	0.12	0.01	0.005	15.3	7.15
HR 12-07	131.00	132.00	1.00	0.010	0.003	0.006	0.10	0.01	0.006	14.8	6.07
HR 12-07	132.00	133.00	1.00	0.008	0.002	0.005	0.06	0.01	0.005	14.3	5.63
HR 12-07	133.00	133.70	0.70	0.006	0.003	0.005	0.02	0.01	0.005	13.4	4.51
HR 12-07	133.70	134.50	0.80	0.003	0.010	0.008	0.01	0.01	0.002	10.5	0.81

Qualified Person

The scientific and technical information in this news release has been reviewed and approved by John Guo, P.Geo. (OGQ), an independent consulting geologist with Eco-Goldex Inc. and a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101.

About Nickel North Exploration Corp.

Nickel North Exploration Corp. is a Canadian exploration company focused on defining a copper-nickel-cobalt-PGE mineral resource at its Hawk Ridge Project in Nunavik, northern Quebec. The property covers 179.67 km2 along a 50 km belt of magmatic Cu-Ni-Co-PGE sulphide occurrences near tidewater. Quebec is a globally recognized, mining-friendly jurisdiction. Nickel North maintains strong, positive relations with local Inuit communities and is committed to sustainable, collaborative mineral development.

In 2021, Nickel North was recognized as a participant in the critical and strategic minerals value chain by the Quebec Ministry of Economy and Innovation under the Quebec Plan for the Development of Critical and Strategic Minerals 2020-2025.

Further information is available at www.nnexploration.com.
On behalf of the Board of Directors,

"Tony Guo"

Tony Guo, P.Geo., Chief Executive Officer
Tel: +1 778 877 5480    E-mail: tonyguo@nnexploration.com

Investor Relations:

Kevin Shum
Jemini Capital, kevin@jeminicapital.com
+1 647 725 3888 x702

Cautionary Statement on Forward-Looking Information

This news release contains forward-looking statements, including statements regarding the planned update of the Mineral Resource Estimate, metallurgical testing and the preparation of a Preliminary Economic Assessment. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties, and actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied. The Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements except as required by law. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Tel: +1 (647) 725-3888 x702