Apparatus and Method for Controlling Internal Combustion Engine

Provided is an apparatus and a method for controlling an internal combustion engine such that emissions may not worsen during recovery from a fuel cut. An internal combustion engine control apparatus executes feedback control on the air-fuel ratio of an internal combustion engine. The control apparatus increases a supply of fuel, with the air-fuel ratio feedback stopped, when combustion restarts after a fuel cut of the internal combustion engine. The control apparatus sets the air-fuel ratio criteria based on a rich-side peak value of the air-fuel ratio obtained after the fuel supply increase starts. The control apparatus starts the air-fuel ratio feedback when the air-fuel ratio falls within the set air-fuel ratio criteria after the fuel supply increase.