Abstract: A numerical control machining apparatus, having a section for reading out and analyzing machining programs from a storage section to control the axis drive section of a machine tool, also can display the quantity and direction of movement for each axis on a display section. The axis movement is identified by symbols that reflect a pre-set correspondence between the direction of movement instruction to each axis of the machine tool and the direction of the actual movement of each axis of the machine tool seen by an operator. That correspondence is stored beforehand when an operator inputs instructions for the various movements of the axes and the operator examines the machine's response and identifies a symbol that corresponds to that response, such as an arrow whose orientation corresponds to an observed movement direction.