YONGSAN GARRISON, South Korea — The USO is giving away a new car to one lucky commissary customer from Europe or the Pacific.

The drawing for a 2005 Volvo S60 will be held Dec. 23; sign-ups for the drawing are being held at the Yongsan Garrison and Osan Air Base commissaries from now through Dec. 22.

On Nov. 23, a “Volvo roadshow” will be held at the Yongsan store, with gifts, food and an appearance by the USO Mobile Canteen. The roadshow will come to the Osan commissary on Dec. 3.

S. Korean named to commission

SEOUL — South Korean Maj. Gen. Cho Young- rae has been named a senior member of the U.N. Command Military Armistice Commission (UNCMAC), the South Korean Ministry of National Defense said Friday.

The commission serves to monitor the ceasefire that ended the fighting of the Korean War. UNCMAC also mediates any cross-border disputes or negotiations along the Demilitarized Zone.

In his role, Cho also will serve as Combined Forces Command deputy chief of staff, the ministry said.

N. Korea in mourning for Arafat

SEOUL — The North Korean government has imposed a three-day mourning period for Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat, who passed away Wednesday in a Paris hospital.

The Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), the North’s official media outlet, said flags will fly at half-mast during the period, which was to begin Monday.

Arafat “was a close friend of the Korean people as he made ceaseless efforts to develop friendly and cooperative relations between the peoples of North Korea and Palestine,” a condolence message from North Korea read, according to KCNA.