Exhibit 99.1


               U. S. STEEL CONFIRMS BID FOR NATIONAL STEEL ASSETS

     PITTSBURGH, April 11, 2003 - 91ÖÆƬ³§ Corporation (NYSE:X)
confirmed that it has submitted a bid to National Steel Corporation to purchase
substantially all of National's steelmaking and steel finishing assets and the
assets of National Steel Pellet Company for a price of $975 million, payable
through $775 million in cash and the assumption of $200 million of National
liabilities. This price is in addition to the significant value that U. S. Steel
will provide to National's employees through its progressive new labor agreement
with the United Steelworkers of America (USWA) announced on Wednesday.
     Commenting on the new tentative labor agreement, U. S. Steel Chairman and
Chief Executive Officer Thomas J. Usher said, "This innovative agreement builds
value for our employees and the employees of National Steel while providing us
the flexibility to staff and operate our facilities on a world competitive
basis. The agreement also allows us to address critical issues related to steel
companies in bankruptcy in a humane way."
     U. S. Steel's bid is consistent with the terms of its January 9, 2003,
Asset Purchase Agreement with National, adjusted for the addition of the
National Steel Pellet assets. The January Agreement was conditioned on obtaining
a satisfactory labor agreement. Because of the groundbreaking agreement reached
with the USWA this week, the bid submitted to National on April 10 is not
conditioned on a labor agreement. U. S. Steel has also received all necessary
regulatory approvals to close the National acquisition, and the bid is subject
only to customary closing conditions.
     Usher stated, "We remain the best solution for National's customers,
employees, retirees, creditors, suppliers and the communities in which National
operates. We have a labor agreement that ensures continuity of National's
business operations and uninterrupted supply to National's customers, provides
secure jobs and competitive wages for the National employees, and assists in the
fair and humane resolution of the legacy problems that have plagued National and
the domestic steel industry. It's time to resolve the National Steel bankruptcy
in the best way for all interested parties. We have offered a fair value for
National's assets, and we are prepared to close the deal immediately following
Bankruptcy Court approval."
     National Steel has been operating under the protection of the U. S.
Bankruptcy Code since March 6, 2002, and the United States Bankruptcy Court for
the Northern District of Illinois has established a bidding procedure that
includes an auction on April 16, 2003, and a hearing to confirm the winning bid
on April 21, 2003.
     Under its bid, U. S. Steel would acquire facilities at National's two
integrated steel plants, Great Lakes Steel, in Ecorse and River Rouge, Mich.,
and the Granite City Division in Granite City, Ill.; the Midwest finishing
facility in Portage, Ind., near Gary, Ind.; ProCoil Corporation in Canton,
Mich.; National Steel Pellet Company's iron ore pellet operations in Keewatin,
Minn. and various other subsidiaries; and joint-venture interests, including
National's share of Double G Coatings, L.P. in Jackson, Miss.