Electric discharge machining is halted during machining program operation, and a position of the machining halt point is stored. A wire electrode is retreated from the machining halt point to an arbitrary position in which a short-circuit with a workpiece is removed (retreat position), by interrupt operation in which axis movement is performed manually. Then, a return is made from the retreat position to the machining halt point while electric discharge machining is performed, machining program operation is started from the machining halt point, and electric discharge machining is restarted.