DWS Strategic Income Trust (NYSE: KST) declared a monthly distribution of $0.07 per share, payable on October 31, 2008 to shareholders of record on October 16, 2008. The ex-date is October 14, 2008. The previous monthly distribution was $0.07 per share.

The current distribution rate represents a 9.32% annualized yield based on the closing market price of $9.01 on October 3, 2008 and a 7.59% annualized yield on a closing NAV of $11.07 on the same date.

Future earnings of the Fund cannot be guaranteed and the Fund's distribution policy is subject to change. For more information on KST please contact a representative at (800) 349.4281 or visit us on the web at www.dws-investment.com.

The fund seeks to provide high current income by investing its assets in a combination of (a) lower-rated, corporate fixed-income securities; (b) fixed-income securities of emerging markets and other foreign issuers; and (c) fixed-income securities of the US government and its agencies and instrumentalities, and mortgage-backed issuers. The fund invests in individual bonds whose yields and market values fluctuate, so that your investment may be worth more or less than its original cost. Investing in securities of emerging markets presents certain unique risks not associated with domestic investments, such as currency fluctuation, political and economic changes, and market risks. All of these factors may result in greater share price volatility. The fund may invest in lower-quality and nonrated securities, which present greater risk of loss of principal and interest than higher-quality securities. Bond investments are subject to interest-rate risk such that when interest rates rise, the prices of the bonds, and thus the value of the bond fund, can decline and the investor can lose principal value.

Closed-end funds, unlike open-end funds, are not continuously offered. There is a onetime public offering and once issued, shares of closed-end funds are sold in the open market through a stock exchange. Shares of closed-end funds frequently trade at a discount to the net asset value. The price of the fund’s shares is determined by a number of factors, several of which are beyond the control of the fund. Therefore, the fund cannot predict whether its shares will trade at, below or above net asset value.

Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Annualized dividend yield is the latest monthly dividend shown as an annualized percentage of net asset value/market price at month end. Annualized dividend yield simply measures the level of dividends and is not a complete measure of performance. Market price, annualized dividend yield, net asset value are historical and will fluctuate and do not guarantee future results. Investments in funds involve risk. Some funds have more risk than others. These include funds that allow exposure to or otherwise concentrate investments in certain sectors, geographic regions, security types, market capitalization or foreign securities (e.g., political or economic instability, which can be accentuated in emerging market countries).

This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation to buy, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer or solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the laws of such state or jurisdiction.

DWS Investments is part of Deutsche Bank's Asset Management division and, within the US, represents the retail asset management activities of Deutsche Bank AG, Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, Deutsche Investment Management Americas Inc. and DWS Trust Company. (R-4466-1 10/08)

Media
Deutsche Bank Press Office, 212-250-7171
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Shareholders
Account Information, 800-294-4366
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Investors:
DWS Closed-end Funds, 800-349-4281