Western Pacific Begins Drilling at Mineral Gulch Project

NEWS RELEASE

Western Pacific Begins Drilling at Mineral Gulch Project

Vancouver, British Columbia, January 30, 2012 - Western Pacific Resources Corp. (WRP - TSXV) is pleased to announce the beginning of additional drilling at its Mineral Gulch project, located in Cassia County, Idaho. The drilling will consist of four drill holes, totaling approximately 1,000 meters of reverse circulation drilling.

"The drilling will be focused on potential down dropped mineralization in the C&D pit as suggested by geologic mapping completed in 2011," states Eric Saderholm, Western Pacific President.
Results of the drilling will be reported when they are received from Chemex.

About Mineral Gulch

Mineral Gulch is located in Cassia County, Idaho, along the southeast edge of the Black Pine Mountains, approximately 128 km southeast of Burley, Idaho. Western Pacific Resources Corp. controls 100% of the project which it acquired through staking.
The project encompasses the historic Black Pine Mining District and surrounding exploration ground. Western Pacific Resources Corp. recently acquired the historical proprietary data for the property from Newmont Mining Corporation.
Sporadic small-scale gold and base-metal mining occurred in the area as early as 1915. Noranda conducted exploration programs at Black Pine between 1984 and 1990. Pegasus Mining entered into a joint venture with Noranda in 1990 and became the majority owner and operator of the mining effort between 1992 and 1998. The Black Pine Property produced over 500,000 ounces of gold at an average head grade of 1.5 grams from several small open pits. Historic exploration and mining efforts have generally focused on near-surface, oxidized ore bodies.
-2-

About Western Pacific

Western Pacific is a gold explorer focused on acquiring advanced-stage projects in the Western United States, and has the right combination of exploration and financial professionals to succeed in making a world class gold discovery. For more information, please visit our website at www.westernpacificresources.com.

Qualified Person

Curt Everson, M.Sc., P.Geo. is Western Pacific's Qualified Person for the purposes of National Instrument 43-101 and has prepared or supervised the preparation of the disclosure of any scientific and technical information contained in this news release.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD

Warwick Smith, Chief Executive Officer

Contact Information

Tel: [phone]

Fax: [phone]

Email: [e-mail]

Website: www.westernpacificresources.com

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor the Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.

This news release contains forward-looking information, which involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual events to differ materially from current expectation. Important factors - including the availability of funds, the results of financing and exploration activities, the interpretation of drilling results and other geological data, risks associated with the estimation of mineral resources and the geology, grade and continuity of mineral deposits, project cost overruns or unanticipated costs and expenses -- 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 on SEDAR (see www.sedar.com). Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation, except to the extent required by law, to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.